HOW HAS ART SAVED YOU?

Now that is a good question. I recently visited a blog with a very interesting question. I always love a challenging question makes the rusty gears grind into working a little faster. LOL
Crescendo asks us how ART has saved us?
For me that is a many parts answer. I started creating at a very young age. My Mother got me hooked so that I would be busy when the weather was not so nice. I loved playing with all kinds of buttons, wood, fabrics, paper and threads. Ceramics and the list goes on.
As a teenager I loved home ec and made a shirt or two although still to this day hate making or mending clothing.
As a adult it saved me money from buying things that I knew I could create for less. LOL
But personally how did it save me? Well that is a whole new ball of wax. It saved me from insanity when my children were young. It helped remind me that I matter too. As Mother's we are often unselfish beings. We clean, cook and care for our families with such pride and dedication that we often are the forgotten ones. That isn't saying that being a wife/mother is a bad thing it is just that we seldom do things without someone elses needs or wants being first. Often times when we even treat ourselves to a simple coffee a cloud of guilt will consume us. Oh, I should have bought the kids a treat instead of me. Yes, this really has been my thoughts.

Creating is the one selfish thing I do. I do buy supplies for me, and I do create as much for the joy as the need. It makes me who I am. It keeps me centered in the big old world of loads of laundry, caring for a loving family and shuffling dollars to make cents. I don't ask the family if I can create, I simply tell them that I am going to. Then I do it. Art give me a identity beyond being just the kids Mom and Mr. Peabody's wife. It reminds me of who ME is...
Now tell me your story. I would love to know.
Have a wonderful day. I am off to finish painting the new studio. YEAH!
hugs,pea

Unexpected Guest

Due to the fact that we live so far out in the boonies we don't get a lot of friends stopping by.
Yesterday I was taking out the trash and chatting with a friend on the phone when a guest showed up and it stopped me in my tracks.
I have lived here for 17 yrs and never knew there were frogs this BIG here. I have seen/heard the baby tree frogs. Have heard other noises that I thought were deer and hubby tells me it is the frogs.



Isn't he cute? He was as long and wide as a $5.00 bill. Yes, a 5.00 bill cause this boy isn't a happy meal. LOL

Back to painting the studio. I have primer on the wall so far. Pics soon I hope.
Have a wonderful week.
Pea

Tweedle Bee and Tweedle Bug

Hello Everyone,
I did manage to get some creating done this week. I am so happy and excited with this little set. I made them a bit different and I think they turned out so adorable.
They are so much sweeter in person.
They are listed on TDIPT and you can find them *HERE*


They can be purchased together or separately if you like.


I have been going all day. Today was the big day. We( the sweetest future DIL) and I moved all my stuff out of my studio. It is all over the house now. OMG I hope no one stops by. Hubby doesn't want me to move his stuff until tomorrow. I want to clear out that room. I have a lot of work a head of me. Clean carpets, prim and paint. Boy a boy what a job. But I can't wait until I have my new paint on the walls and it starts to feel like home.
maybe tomorrow you will get a before peek.
Until then have a wonderful weekend. I will be a busy girl;)
Blessings,Pea

My first Mini book

Hello Everyone,
I have been playing in paper. I love playing in paper now and then. I got this book cut out as a freebie from a order some time back. As soon as I saw it I thought of my dearest friend. She is more like a sister then a friend. I had to make it for her.
The color choices are her favorites, colors of her furniture and decor.( although I love them too!) I took a few pics that I had of her, her family and had them printed in black and white.


I am not showing you all of the book pages as some of them are private moments and notes. Here are pics of most of the book though. You will miss the one paper flower, some of the pockets and tags but you will get the feel for the book from these pages I believe.

I love the fold of this envelope. I found it on utube and had fun playing with it. This is Kris being a goober.


My favorite page. A picture of her Mom( right) and her Auntie Joan. I adore these women and they make me feel like family. Hubby said the wings are upside down. I played with them and liked them like this. So blah to you hubbers:(

This is Kris and her four boys. What a funny bunch of guys they are.


Left this page open for her to add a pic of Eli her grandson. I didn't have one of him.


This is more room for pics to be added. I used Tim Holtz tickets for journaling as the pockets to add pics. The pic will make Kris laugh. You see when she was trying to move to Arizona she got stuck here because of this lovely snow( you see here) for 3 weeks. I had the best time with my closest friend for three whole weeks. She called it a vacation and I call it one of the best times of my life. God how I miss her.

I tried to make the book so that there wasn't a lot of decoration on it. Kris is a pretty classy, simple gal. She doesn't like the fluff, frilly, lace and flowery type stuff. Clean simple and antique-ish. So I tried to give that feel to the book. I hope I did achieve that.

So gals how did I do for my first book? PLEASE LET ME KNOW *TRACY?! Since you asked...

Well the dishes are calling and then I want to go create some more stuff. Sewing I think. Have a wonderful week.
Hugs,Pea

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy

Love the words on this song even though not crazy about John Denver's singing. Today was a typical Washington day. One minute sunshine and the next is was sprinkles but ya know I love that sunshine.
I took some time to heal from the events from last week. Celebrated my son's birthday and got to laugh again. Good food, good people is always a happy event in our house. I love these kids and their partners. They have all chosen so well. We are blessed and I hope I never take it for granted.



My Son Tyler and his girlfriend Cassie above. Just look at those eyes.

I am working on a few projects including the goodies for the give away. Please be patient with me while I continue to heal a broken heart and get a little bit of me time. I do appreciate every single one of you that comes to my blog. Taking time out of your day to see what the Pea is up to makes me smile.

I took a few minutes to snap a few pictures. I love nature and trees. I love how they make me feel protected. Surrounding me like a set of elders to watch over us and protect us from the weather.
We have a large piece of property and have left most of it as natural as possible(-)the scotch broom. That stuff makes me ill and is just plain ugly and takes over. I have seen a few wild animals in my back yard because we left it this way. Black bear- okay scary, beaver on my back porch and I thought it was a very fat cat at first. Fox, bobcat, rabbits,ducks, geese, and the typical squirrels, host of birds. Know there is a cougar that roams the neighborhood but haven't seen him but heard him one night. Again scary.

I took the pictures at first to try and improve my photography skills. I love photography but I am simply not a natural at it. I am working on it. My Future DIL is such a natural at it. So is giving me a lesson or two. So hopefully while I continue to learn I will be able to show you my progress along the way.
Okay, break time over. Back to work for me. I have a ton of stuff to do. May you be blessed
Pea