Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Making an effort!

I promised myself I would do several things differently this upcoming new year.
1. work on my blog more
2. concentrate on putting more work on Esty & Ebay maybe have a selling site.
3. take few classes to learn new techniques
4. Clean my studio, which is a total wreck, actually that should be number one!
5. and finally get rid of excess junk.

I am sure those of you who are artists, will understand number 5. The "I may be able to use that" attitude that keeps me from throwing away anything I think might have use for somewhere down the road. Since I am a cancer this is even worse for me as I can't seem to part with anything! I currently have broken pottery, thinking I might be inspired to do a mosaic of some sort one day. hmmmm yeah that ain't gonna happen!

I have been saving toilet issue rolls for some time now, and while I do haul them out and create some darling little 4Th of July pieces and Halloween candy tube thingies , let's be reasonable here , how likely is it that I would experiance a shortage of those?

I have tons of floral picks, I hate flower arranging, what was I thinking? I save boxes, tissue and packing wrap. I have patterns that I haven't even opened. I 'm thinking spring cleaning craft sale on EBAY.
My husband, who is a notorious neat freak, refuses to place one toe into my studio, he totally doesn't understand how I can work in such utter chaos and to top it off , I have been sorting through material so the guest bedroom is sort of disaster too. Now I am getting the LOOK. If I don't start getting the guest room in order I am sure I will soon get the Look and the complaints! Sigh! I have successfully put him off for now as I have told him that I gathering things for end of the year donations. oops! almost outta time on that one! Guess I really need to kick it into high gear tomorrow! Off for now! ~susan~


Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Time to take a breath!

First, let me just say Thank God! I don't have to fly anywhere to spend the holidays with my family! Now that things are settling back down, I've spent the last few days reading the Twilight Series. I am not a fan of the vampire genre, however, I couldn't put these books down. The writer captured my imagination on the very first page.
I will continue to read everything she writes from here on out. I only have a few authors that I would crawl over burning sands to buy their books, my favorite being Jayne Ann Krentz, Stephenie Meyer will now be added to that list. And Robert Pattison will always be Edward to me now that I've seen the first movie...... Oh if I were only younger! sigh! But there's alway Johnny Depp.....
Winter came to Salem Oregon today we received 2 to 3 inches of snow, our weatherman was wrong again! Shocking! Although it did make for a wonderful day to snuggle down , drink hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream, or in this case cool whip, and watch old movies. I had no where to be or anything I had to get done. The perfect day! I hope your day was uneventful and peaceful. ~Susan~

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Done at last!

At long last I have completed all orders, last weekend was the final show so now I can sit back and enjoy the Holidays!

HA ! that is if you don't count the Christmas shopping I still have left, which is almost everyone, the Holiday baking I haven't even begun to start and decorating my house!
I used to be so organized , shopping was all done in early November, baking was done by December 1 st. and my entire house ,including the Christmas tree, was up and decorated before Thanksgiving.
I do have excuses though. OUr family spent Thanksgiving in California, doing Disneyland , Knott's Berry Farm and finishing off with big family gathering at my in-laws house!
Since this all was my brilliant idea, I offered to cook both turkeys at our condo and bring it out to the in laws house.
AH HA HA ,what was I thinking?? I had it all planned out in my mind , it was perfect . We brought 2, 23 lbs.plus turkeys, disposable roasting pans and my Grammies secret stuffing ingredients with us on our 14 hour journey from Salem Oregon to Anaheim Ca. All 7 of us in my daughters, Suburban, with her focus driven husband at the helm. Each of us armed with the lastest in travel necessities, IPODS, DVD PLAYERS, PHONES and lots & lots of snacks .
We only stopped for the all important potty and gas breaks, other than that we traveled at lightening speeds of 85 plus the whole way. My son-in-law has extraordinary luck, he wins every contest he enters, gets free stuff all the time and never ever encounters the highway patrol while driving way over the speed limit, which is good because we are always running late when we go places as a family.
Once we arrived in California, we enjoyed the warm summer like temps of the mid 70's and of course the Wonders of Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm , which by the way is a much more family priced place to visit, about a third of the price of Disneyland for those who would like to do both.
I had planned to cook one turkey Wednesday morning and other on Wednesday night while we were sleeping. However, the oven at the condo didn't have a timed baking featured, which I had not figured on in my ingenious plan, this place was brand new, and hadn't figured on them cheesing out on the appliances. Oh well, I am flexible , well, sort of. Since I knew we would not be returning back to the condo until probably 11 pm, which would the turkeys unattended for 12 hours, I was left with a decision. Either bake one when we arrived back at 11 PM and try to cook the other before we left the next morning or I could cook them both at the same time, at the low temperature 225. Yes, that would work! It had to work. Figuring that 50 plus lbs of turkey wouldn't cook completely even with several hours of cooking I was golden. Wrong!!
When we arrived back at the condo,the aroma of turkey scented the hall way. I didn't hear the smoke alarm but was fearing the worst . The only thing I could think of was the scene from Christmas Vacation when the turkey sort of exploded from being over cooked and was as dry as the Sahara.
However, the turkeys were more like slow cooked ribs , the meat was still on the bones only because the skin was holding it there! There was so much juice that it had spilled over the side and on to the floor ! Small price to pay though as long as I didn't ruin the turkeys! Still it worked out great. The meat was moist , easily cut, and since this was a family gathering of over 26 ,we didn't do the big turkey presentation thing, so it all worked out fine. I hadn't ruined Thanksgiving! YEA!
I actually finished my house decorating today, so all I have left is shopping and baking. Fortunately I have all next week to shop and my grand kids are wanting to help with baking so once again I should be Golden!
This time of year, is such as wonderful time of Blessings and Love , I am thankful for all my family , my friends and colleague's, I pray all of you have a wondrous and Blessed Christmas Season! For those that are struggling I pray for God's Blessings for you, I know God answers prayers, He will answer yours too! Blessings and Peace ~Susan~


American Holiday Artists

American Holiday Artists
Ebay Art Group I belong to visit us to see all of our members creations

Phineas Birthday Surprise

Phineas Birthday Surprise
SOLD

Hawaii in early Dec

Hawaii in early Dec
North side of Oahu

Earlier this week

Earlier this week

Old World Santa Glass eyes

Old World Santa Glass eyes
Gourd

Snow Dec 2008

Snow Dec 2008

Snowflake Santa Gourd

Snowflake Santa Gourd
ex large gourd sculpted

Mirek's sculpt

Mirek's sculpt
HUH??

Mirek's updated version

Mirek's updated version

Victorian look Christmas Angels AHA/Adsg folk art Ooak

Victorian look Christmas Angels  AHA/Adsg folk art Ooak

Smoking Pipe & Red/Blk Santa's

Smoking Pipe & Red/Blk Santa's
Gourd Art

Mad Hatters Teapot

Mad Hatters Teapot
Just listed on Ebay

Christmas Snowman

Christmas Snowman

Fall Celebreate 365 is out!!

Fall Celebreate 365 is out!!
Be quick and grab yours! this book is amazing!

Jingle Bell Santa 2008

Jingle Bell Santa 2008