Monarch Post

cold brain, warm heart

         

LoVe

 

     is irresistibe.

     is a renewable energy source of vast potential.

     is not always easy.

     makes a house a home and a place a community.

     takes you into uncharted territory.

     makes you want to leave the world better than you found it.

     isn't blind. It sees everything.

     will find a way.

     is all you need.

 This quote was laying on my kitchen counter when I came home last night. I don't know where it came from, but I took it as a sign to post it. I think it's beautiful. I'll have to ask who left it there... I don't think I've had a remarkable thought in my brain all week. January does that to me. When I've thought about what I should write on my overdue blog, all I get is this (.....?.....) Yep, that about sums up my brain wave activity lately.

 I just want to hibernate. Bears are smarter than us. Get fat, go to sleep for the winter, have babies while you sleep, wake up in the spring- skinny. Yes, bears are very smart.

But I've kept working, along with taking care of three sick kids.. multiple schools, multiple germs. Hurry spring. I want to see butterflies.

So on my self-made heart art assignment, here's what I've come up with. And what we've done with our week ( again) at home. (I'll list heart art on Etsy tonight.)

    One thrift shop bowl I painted red and filled with my homemade fabric scrap hearts.

       I stitched  warm and wooly hearts. Inspired by magazines with those heart-shaped sugar cookies with the raspberry fillling... yum. I am a sucker for magazines with flowers and pretty cookies in January.   And woven paper heart ornaments, brought home from school by my kids... yummy, too.

 

I've been experimenting with my new wood burning tools

  It's harder than I thought it would be, kinda like learning to drive a stick shift- just gotta give it the right amount of pressure.

    I also tried to burn down my studio and the house.... Yes, follow the directions and do not leave lit candles unattended people! Just after checking on dinner, I walked back in to see shooting flames right below the lampshade. YIKES!

I am obviously desperate for a little excitement.

 It was also very, very foggy for a few days here. And I really missed the sun, so I pulled out our summertime Mr. Sun folk art piece and put him in the hallway; it wasn't enough...      Images of beautiful, light-filled cathedrals with stained glass windows kept coming to mind... so I made this piece of collage art on wood.

    Old jewelry pieces, batik fabric, polka dots, and green things growing are some of my favorite materials to work with.

   

But on most days the skies are brilliant blue in Utah winter, and I'm so glad. I've lived in other places with grey winter skies, and I think it's soooo depressing.

 It's been so cold here; the last snowstorm stayed on the trees for days.

   Look at this photo I took of my back yard at dust. No flash, and look at all the lights- anyone got any ideas about this photo- Traci?

And in between my creative spurts of energy, we studied for and won the class spelling bee, and then made it to the fourth round school-wide finals. Yay, Jesse!     We finished our science fair project too...

Winston is good for lots of things- he was even a very willing science fair experimentor- running timed races for treats.The conclusion: he likes bacon treats over chicken or beef treats ;-) And he says he'll be a science fair experiment aannyytimmme...

 

Just look at these two ridiculous haircuts. I'm not happy to have spent seventy-five dollars for this--

    Greta looks like she stuck her paw in a light socket, and Winston

     looks like a pig. Oink. The vet says he's gained four pounds this winter. Double Oink.

Been sprucing up around the house with a few heart items too, repainted a dark shelf white. Yes, I like to paint furniture in my kitchen, doesn't everyone?

         

And buying little things like this for a January picker-upper. Antique quilt heart art, from our towns' best gift shop- Just a Bed of Roses, thanks Brenda!

 

I'm liking it on my dining room hutch.

   

And why stop at the furniture-- today I decorated the old earlobes with hearts I made last February.

 

And added a wild thrift shop shirt. Yes, sometimes I find some great clothes there too- (now my high fashion secrets are out!)

Well, I guess that about wraps up the week here-- thrilling, I know... but hey, it's been January all week. 

Hope you're all doing well, and staying well and warm!!

Lots of love,

xoxoxo Kelly 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

how to entertain yourself when it's stinkin' cold outside...

    I think I turned into a workaholic last week. Something's going on with me... love, baby, Valentine's luv I say!... Like I've said before, I LOVE Valentines Day! But I'm not complaining about working, because it's really not work. I'm having fun. And in January in Utah, it's just a good idea to stay in and stay warm... and make papier mache tulip hearts for the Etsy shop. Why not.

Isn't that the cutest little green pot? I found two of them this week in a thrift shop... so I had to stray a little from my Valentine color scheme plan of red and pink. But I am an artiste' after all- what else would you expect from me! Ha, ha.

And while I was straying, I decided to make a bunch of these guys. Well, I really should say I finally finished these guys. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but they've sat in my workroom since summer. Well heck, with a nice heart tag they make a sweet Valentine gift too, right?  Just say yes- humor me here, please.

  

 

  

I designed the pattern and made my "reproduction Winstons" out of an old wool blanket. The spots are felted wool and the scarf is an old shirt. I like how these guys turned out. Thanks in part to such a great model...

   This is the "look how cute I am while you cook me dinner pose". It generally fails to get him anywhere. (Gee, I didn't know it was that dusty under my stove- gotta clean that tomorrow.)

   But the "thoughtful professor pose" along with a handshake, usually gets him somewhere in the kitchen. Shaggy dog. He really needs a haircut, but it's so stinkin' cold here, I haven't wanted to cut it. Until yesterday- when he came into the house with doo-doo stuck to his behind... I had to cut ALL the hair off his rear end, and then bathe him. Let me tell you it was Un believe ably gross! And now he looks ridiculous from the rear view (no pun intended) He's also been sleeping in the bathtub lately. I think he's hot. Or just plain weirder than I knew. Either way- we're getting a buzz Friday I can tell you.

The rest of us non-dog members of the family are doing nice non-gross winter things.

 

Do you remember Easy Bake ovens?

 

  

And playing LIfe?

I have a talent for landing on "have a baby". By the end of the game, I'm stacking kids on top of kids... it appears I am fertile in the game department too.

So it looks like we're going retro on the entertainment lately. Thanks in part to leaving our Wii controllers at a cousins sleepover. I can't say I've missed them- the controllers that is.

We're busy here,

 

playing sports. That's my Jesse in the royal blue shirt...

And learning how to sell lots of Girl Scout cookies...

 

And making and SELLING happy heart art!!

Yes, I did say selling. I think things are taking off on the Etsy business. I've got more and more handmade goodies on the way still. So big WHoO-Hoo from out here in freakin' cold Utah!!

And now that it's 2AM!I think I'll head to bed. At least that hairy hot dog is a good bed heater for my icicle winter feet when the old hairy husband is out of town!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I need to catch up with everyone. Maybe tomorrow, if my eyes stay open.

Take care and lot of love to you,

Kelly

short and sweet

    Hi there! Hey, I've been working away the last few days, and getting lots done for my Etsy shop. These are my original sundae pinscuchions- lots of fun to make with old sundae glasses and recycled wools.

 

Cherry and strawberry.

  

Strawberry and vanilla.

   

Chocolate and strawberry .

  So much fun to make AND calorie free!

I've also added a few more rose pins to my shop...

  

I've got several other new designs and items I'll be adding through next week... mentally not having to think about writing a big blog every couple of days and focusing on Valentines gifts in reds and pinks seems to be giving me more discipline and creative energy right now. And I'm thinking that's a really good thing for the middle of January !

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm really trying to get it all together over here... lots more unique designs and goodies are on the way!

Take care and have a happy weekend!!

xoxox Kelly

saying uncle

       She's 5'0 nothing and she can still occasionally beat up her 6'0 tall (little) brother... say it, just say it, Bobo! (Corbyn's dreaded nickname) and I'll let you go.... Okay! UNCLE!!  Stop. Stop. Stop tickling me or I'm gonna stick your head in the toilet, and flush it woman!

On and on it goes... sweet sibling affection (?)

I've decided to follow Corbyn's lead and say UNCLE myself... for a week or two. So much to do at the moment, and if I take a little blog break, maybe I'll actually get some work done.... really, though, I'd rather just play around Typepad.. but I need to shift gears, sports are starting, there's practices, science fair coming up, promised piano lessons, and Girl Scout cookies to sell. Oiye... You Moms know the score. 

I will be posting any items I get made and list them on Etsy though-- a working blog break, I suppose.

See you in a few! Hope I don't have blog withdrawals. Is there AA for blog addicts?

Lots of love to you!!

Kelly

  

engaged?

 

 Me? Nope.. still married to the same great guy. The oldest daughter Ainsley, right? Nope... Looks like seven year old Sophey got the big proposal. Local neighborhood boy. What an ingenious way to pop the question... in a plastic Easter egg. I don't know about class, but this boy's got guts.

Sophey: Mom look what---- gave me while we we're playing outside!

Me: Wow Soph! He must really like you to give you a ring like that!

Sophey: But I'm not in love with him, Mom. I mean he's fine to play with, but that's all!

Me: So what are you going to do with it?

Sophey: I don't know. I don't love him, so I don't think I should keep it.

Me: Well, you have a point there. But I bet that took a lot of courage for him to give you that ring.

Sophey: If I keep it, I won't hurt his feelings, but then he'll think I like him or LOVE him!

Me: Well, maybe...

Sophey: What do you think I should do?

Me: Well, I would probably just keep it and let him think whatever.

Sophey: But what if it's a real diamond?

Me: It's not honey, don't worry..

Sophey: IS THIS WHAT GROWNUPS GO THROUGH ALL THE TIME?!!

Me: Yeah, pretty much honey.

Sophey: Yuck, I don't ever want to grow up then!

Me: (to myself,I don't want you too either, my adorable little girl... stay seven for about ten more years.. -K-?)

The ring is still sitting here... decisions, decisions...

xoxoxo

Kelly

hearts in a row

    It snowed like crazy all day yesterday. I had the perfect excuse not to go anywhere. I pulled out my recycled felted sweater wools, and got to work. One dozen little sweetheart pins flew right off my itching to stitch fingertips. Love it when that happens.  

I'm not too big on New Year's resolutions- I use New year's like a yearly to do list. Mostly for house projects. Changing me with a resolution just doesn't ever seem to work. 

If I did resolve anything about me last year, it was to find a better vision for my artwork. I want so much to do more to help others. There's always this conflict going on in me. I sit in my lovely warm, comfy studio doing exactly what I want to do with my life, and yet half the world lives in abject poverty, simply trying to survive- they have no such luxury. It nags at me. And so I've asked and asked for a clearer vision- how can I help and use the gifts I've been given?

Last week maybe part of that prayer and asked for vision fell into place. At least for my Etsy shop. I cleared my shop last night. And from here on out, ten percent of everything I sell will be sent to charity/justice organizations.(It's small potatoes, I know, but hey, it all helps, right?) I've already started doing this with my Bead for Life crafts, and now ten percent of everything I sell will be donated to various groups. For instance, any craft item made in red, I will donate ten percent to Product Red.  Maybe craft items in pink will go to Breast Cancer research? ...I haven't decided on all the charities yet, but I'll let you know where the money will go in the description of each item. I need to figure out a way to keep a tally on my sites...

So for the next two months in my shop (maybe permanently, we'll see how it goes...) you'll see everything in shades of red, pinks, and chocolate brown (Chocolate=Valentine's, right?)  Hearts, Love, Chocolate. What could be better? 

Loads of love to you!

xoxoxo Kelly

p.s. I'll be adding the heart pins to my Etsy shop later tonight or tomorrow morning- lots to do today.

in the mail...

    Last week a very nice surprise showed up in my mailbox. The latest copy of Somerset Life. It's a gorgeous magazine, filled to the brim with inspiration of all sorts. 

Last January I was making heart sachets for my friend's gift shop, and I noticed that Kim at Dear Daisy Cottage was asking for handmade fabric hearts to showcase on her blog. I love Kim's wonderful thrift store yellow and red cottage, and her positive outlook on life. I told her I'd love to send her some homemade hearts. I designed a couple that I thought would go well in Daisy Cottage. Kim let me know later that my hearts had been picked up for publication in Somerset Life's Dec/Jan/Feb issue.

So without even trying, I wound up in this beautiful magazine... And that's my mailbox surprise story for today! Pretty darn cool. What a great treat to start '09! Thanks Somerset staff and Jenny Doh.

Take care,

xoxxoxo Kelly

new stuff

    Just added some more wild rose pins to my Etsy shop. Can you tell I'm already ready for spring?  I saw Valentine's stuff in the grocery store yesterday and wanted to yell, "WHOO HOO!" in aisle seven! Valentine's Day and Easter are my favorite holidays, and next week I'll be getting to work on filling my shop for Valentine's and Easter.  Gotta take down the trees tomorrow...I'm ready now.

Love,

xoxo Kelly

wishing in 2009

     We tend to be pretty big New Year's Eve party poopers around here. We'd just as soon stay home with the kids and watch movies in our jammies most New Year's evenings--this year included.

But we started one new tradition a couple of years ago to make things a little more fun for the kids. We make a New Year's cake. Store bought birthday number candles, store bought funfetti cake mix, some crazy candles and flowers. Kid decorated all, with red hots and sprinkles to boot. Always homemade buttercream frosting here though- can't stand the canned stuff. And Viola- a New Year's Eve wish cake. We blow out the candles all at once, while making our own wishes for the coming year. I can't tell you mine- or it won't come true, right?

Happy New Year to you, my friends

      May all your wishes

     come true!

Lots of love,

xoxoxo Kelly