Where's my Mojo At?!

I know I haven't posted in a while, I am so sorry. I think about why and of course there are many excuses, but no real reason. I have been busy concentrating on my personal life and my creative juices have not been freely flowing, at least not as easily as I want them, plus I barely have time to answer my mail let alone post on here.
Anyhow, I am and always will be an artist, so I have been creating.... on me. I have been cutting my own hair for about two years now, nothing spectacular, but I did find a book called "How to Cut your Own or Anyone Else's Hair", so with a little practice and lets face it, hair always grows back, I have not spent a $$ on haircuts since. I've been getting more creative with it, cutting a fringe and going quite retro. I also did my son's hair in dreads, and I will post a picture of a year later, it's grown a lot and it looks great!

This was the first on, I followed the instructions for the perfect layered hair cut and didn't cut any definite fringe. This was 2 years ago and the make up was way more tame and softer.

I again did the layered cut, but cut the fringe slightly to show off the streak of white hair. I do that buy separating that part of hair before I colour the rest because I do have gray througout my whole head, it makes it looks striking.

A couple months ago, I decided to cut the fringe shorter to show off my new glasses. My eyebrows were thicker here with a cute arch, but with the new cut, I think I will be making them much thinner.

Then I decided on the Betty Page style bangs, they look super cute with my newest pair of Retro style glasses. I also realized how much younger I look with the newest fringe, not bad for 40. I did leave it in layers, so the curls look gorgeous and shiny.

Check it out, the Rosie the riveter look.

I forget how quickly the fringe grows, at least it shows longer faster than the rest of my hair, so I am going to trim it again. Still it looks great.

 I would recommend anyone who is a total DIY gal, to get this book or a similar one and try it out. If you don't mind taking chances and saving $$, then this will be a great book to have. Even for just learning to give yourself a trim in between going to the stylist. Best money I ever spent for sure. Oh, and check out the brows? I have gone from the thicker style sported for a couple of years, back to the nice thin line, a la chola style, but I only draw them in stronger to go out for an evening look. I still do nice defined lips in a hot pink/red/berry or purple, depending on my glasses too.
Here is the latest one of my son, his dreads are twice as long as they were when we did them, so cute.

I no longer have to wax his dreads, they stay in all on their own, I just crochet the strays and weave them into themselves like a reverse braid, that;s about it, and was with a LUSH shampoo bar.

Anyhow, creative does come in all forms....when I get back my crafting mojo, I will post about it for sure. Until then, happy Wednesday.
Cheers,
Viviana

Postcard Friendship Friday

This lovely postcard is part of my favourites in my collection of postcards. I love the colours, the gold is still bright and the embossing is intricate and gorgeous.

The back is pretty simple, no address or date, it's to Miss Mae Wright and the greeting just simply says "Many Happy Returns".

Please feel free to use the postcard image for making your own crafts, it is way to gorgeous not to share!!

Check out The Best Hearts Are Crunchy for all the other wonderful postcards for today!

Mid Week Day Dreamin'

I'm usually way too busy with kid/child related things to actually get things fixed/organized in my house, let alone paint and even re-decorate, but it's usually in mid week, that I start to daydream about what I would love to do to my little house, maybe ove the weekend when I have some spare time (RIGHT?!),I dream of the rooms need a splash of loving colour and what my dream deck and garden would be .... I call it My Mid Week Day Trippin' or Dreamin', depends on who I'm chatting with.


I was hanging out at Rose Petals and Rust, and got dreaming of having my own little cottage, like the one she is building in her yard. Unfortunately for me, I have a tiny yard and being in Calgary, Alberta...it's much too cold for having an outdoor playplace...so I have to settle for the dreary basement or the spare bedroom.

This is sort of how organized I'd like it, like a little store (check out the rest of that room here).

This closet space is quite appealing too. Check out Karen Russell's blog for more on her incredible perfect scrap space.


One of these index card holders would rock too, imagine the possibilities?!



I picked the spare bedroom.... It's slightly bigger than the walk in closet, it's not at all like the dungeoun of a basement, and it does have a window, BONUS!

So far, it looks like an office
and not a great place for inspiration or creations, however, I am bound to make it work. I've started by moving stuff around a bit, and removing the huge sliding closet doors our of my way. Hopefully it's a start, I will recreate this space into something I love to work in. I think my family is getting mighty tired of eating meals off the coffee table, or fighting for a spot to eat with my growing pile of projects on the dinign room table.
I have to figure out how to combine both spaces into a small room, so far I've only got about 1/2 of my stuff, and I'm still trying to place things where they will work...
obviously I will move that from the window!

Wish me luck. in the meantime, check out this lovely little thrift store find, $1.50!!

Wondering what I should use it for? It is bigger than the average train case, but not as big as a suitcase either. It is a lovely little find!

Cheers,
Viviana

Now This BLOG is FABULOUS!

I have been lifting ideas, images and inspiration from this blog for a few months now, so I suppose it's time I gave her props and shared with all of you how fabulous Cathe Holden and her blog Just Something I Made really is.
I have used no less than 6 of her tutorials and ideas in my own household, and that is really amazing since I always thought I has some great things going.
One of my favourites and latest finds deep in her archives is this, which I will share with you because I'm sure she won't mind, and I am using today. I have tons of fabric and leather renmants lying around in piles and in drawers, last night I gathered them up and I am in the process of printing the pdf file for Organizing Fabric Renmants as we speak (I'm multi-tasking!!). It is time to get them rolled up and sorted in my newly acquired giant drawer filing cabinet.

You can get the PDF format labels to print yourself from her tutorial.


Another one of my favourite tutorials was this one,

called Leather Mounting Plaques, using the free pdf file (which you can get from Cathe's blog)
I made a few brooches and it gave me the idea for using some die cuts for a similar look.

I have too many charms and just wasn't sure what to do with some, so this was a perfect way to make unique gifts and items for my Etsy Shop.



For my next project (as soon as I get my sewing machine back) I will be making this!

I happen to have a few placemats in a blue flower print, which I picked up more than 5 years ago for 10cents each at liquidation world. I'm tired of squashed tissue boxes in my mini-van, and using this idea will save me from the frustration of muddy/slushy boot prints on my kleenx next time I go use one. I will eventually post a picture for you all to see the finished product.

Anyhow, if one day you find yourself bored and looking for some wonderful inspiration from a great designer, go visit Cathe at Just Something I Made, you'll find yourself lost in her blog for hours!

Creating Frenzy, I love Christmas Time!

I've been in a 'creation frenzy' for the past few weeks, and this is just a tiny bit of all the things I've been working on. I honestly need a real workshop, my diningroom table is no longer good enough!

In am working on tons of Christmas Cards, most of which don't make it to ETSY because I do sell them locally and some that sell as soon as I list so we don't get to enjoy them for long. I made this one, snow globe card, because we never had a snow globe when we were kids, but I've always been fascinated by them. This card gives me a nostalgic feeling.



This little brooch was inspired by all my purses. I have these little charms, but I wanted to use them in a less traditional way, not on a necklace atleast. I am working on a few more with different colours of leather, which I die cut, thus achieving the prefect base for showing off the little gems!






The cuff and matching ring are an experiment in creation. I started making leather covered buttons because I couldn't find anyone who sold them at a reasonable price. I made a ring and then I thought a matching bracelet would be hot. This is the result, and I love it. I mostly wear charm bracelets, which dangle and get tangled and sometimes just don't finish a look quite like I want them to. This cuff looks great and I love that it looks rocker while still being sexy and soft!



I discovered a couple of really great blogs, with ideas and inspiration galore. The first is "Just Something I Made" where I got the patterns for some of the plaques for my brooches. I love all the ideas she shares and love that I have found someone who thinks outside the box! This brooch is my take on her idea. I have added a couple to my store. We'll see how they do.



Now I'm off to go create some more, I have a few craft sales to go before the season is done and, I also have to finish my gift making for my own family and friends. Hopefully, I can keep up the pace and be done in time to go out an enjoy a bit of the beautfiful days we are having this fall!

Tonight I will start looking through our decorations, it's almost time to get them out, I can't wait to see my little house looking all warm and cozy and ready for entertaining!

Cheers!