Heigh Ho! It's Off To School We Go!!

While everyone has finished up their school year and looking forward to the exciting pastimes of sweet summer, I've gone back to school!  Yep, I'm taking online classes at....

I enrolled in the most exciting classes with two of the most talented instructors and artists:  Cat Kerr, who is teaching Stencil Frame Pendant & Necklace and Diane Cook, who is teaching Heart Strings.  Classes began on Tuesday and I'm making some progress.  Here's what I've been up to in Cat's class....

that's a picture of my Mom on your right ~ taken at Church.  I think she was about 10 years old.

I learned how to use a jeweler's saw! I broke 2 blades, but it's all good 'cause now I have the hang of it!

I've been away from the old sewing machine for far too long and this portion of the project helped to get me back in the groove....these two pix are part of the necklaces

I'm waiting for a tool to arrive before I can proceed with my necklaces.  Hopefully, it will arrive early this week.

For Diane's class I discovered a patina product which I absolutely LOVE ~ so I'm divorcing myself from the stinky liver of sulphur from here on out!

Here's the thimble I patinaed, set and eyelet and punched,

getting it ready for the next step...

the Heart Strings, which are upcycled sari silk.

Just some of the components for my Heart Strings are these...

But I've also been busy creating for Karen's Monday Musings with a bracelet here...

and another there....

A special request from Schotzie...

And  a fab necklace for Kiki....

the large pieces are silver plated geodes!

But it wasn't ALL work last week ~ we went to the most delightful birthday party on Sunday for sweet little Serena.  Of course I had to make a special card for this special princess!

Serena celebrated her 3rd birthday in grand style!

don't you just love it!!!

little princess and me

Big brother LJ,  Birthday girl, Daddy, and Mommy ~ one of the sweetest families we call friends!

It's going to be another busy week for this gal.  Along with my daily aquatic therapy, there's a TSQ swap tomorrow night, lunches with girlfriends, Artful Gathering classes, Scrap Happies on Saturday...oh yes, and Sunday is Father's Day!!  Whew!

Please come back next week - there will be lots of "show and tell," and general gabbing to do.  Have a beautiful week my sweet, sweet friends and thank you so much for your visit.  You mean the world to me!
xoxo
Karen

And The Trunk Was Emptied....Almost!

What a Show it was!  In my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine an unveiling that was as much fun and successful as was my Trunk Show yesterday.

Before I put up pictures, I want to thank my friends for their enthusiastic support ~ Sandy, Selena, Lauri, Heather, Tammy, Eva, Cindy, Sharon, Angel, Debbie, Geri, Gini, Deirdre, Vincetta, Chris, Katie, Kelly, and Angela.  

Not only were you there for me, but you bolster my confidence to develop my art further ~ trying new techniques and methods of design.

I must thank my family....my Kiki and Schotzie who are so beautiful from the inside to the outside.  Without your help and support this event would not have been born.

Kiki, you outdid yourself with your gorgeous meat and cheese board and Pink Lemonade cake.
(silly me....I forgot to take pictures of our buffet set-up!! )...but here's what the little food signs looked like, and they were clipped to wooden spools like this:

Schotzie, you manned the check out table and kept things running smoothly.

The love of my life, Ron, who kept the dishwasher stacked and chatted up the ladies ~ some he knew, others just met.

And the payoff was... these three most important people in my life CLEANED EVERYTHING up for me!!  I couldn't ask for more.

Lastly, a big "thank you" to my friends Rosemary and Rachelle for their pre-event orders...SO exciting to receive these after posting some pix to Facebook on Friday!!

Well, as they say...."On with the show!"

And I have one more, very important tidbit to share with you....I am the very LUCKY winner of Fran's Giveaway!! You can find her at thebaglady.blogspot.com    The uber-generous Fran sent me the most amazing box filled with these wonderful goodies...

Sweet Fran remembered that I LOVE Dots, from an altered bottle swap many moons ago!  The Jiffy plant is in her hometown, and there's a definite "chicken" theme going on!

one of Fran's passions is creating Prims ~ dolls and their wardrobes.  This is one of her darling creations.

loved everything, especially the sweet little white hen she created!

Thank you so much, dear Fran, from the bottom of my heart!

Well, sweet friends, I will be back to work this week as my two classes at Artful Gathering 2012 begin on Thursday.  Can you see me jumping up and down as I type this???!!!  I'm over-the-moon excited about the all the new and wonderful things I'll be learning with Cat Kerr and Diane Cook ~ two super, amazing artists!!  You can check back with me next Monday to see what I've learned!

In the meantime, have a blessed week and thank you so much for taking the time to visit with me today!
xoxo
Karen

Tuesday's "Peek Show!"

Many of you know that my Trunk Show is right around the corner....

In fact, it's this coming Sunday, June 3rd!

I'm happy to say that the trunk is no longer empty, but is filling up quickly....

I thought you might like a peek at what I've been up to for the past 3 weeks...remember, this is just a peek...I don't want to take away the element of surprise for those dear guests who are attending!!

some journals and petite cahiers

sweet bottles

vintage glove boxes

petite treasure boxes

pendants

layered necklaces

big beautiful bling

bracelets

of all kinds....

earrings

chaton rings

Lover-lee dollies

plates for sweets, treats, and jewelry

I hope you enjoyed this "sneak peek" ~ well, it's back to work for me....still lots to do with staging, the menu, and signage.  

Have a beautiful week, sweet friends....wish you could all be here for my premier event!
xoxo
Karen