Sunday, Beautiful Sunday

Well, I've got another class under my belt.

What a great time we had Sunday.

It was a small group, just friends who've taken my classes before.

They had a special request & I couldn't say no!

 So 1st things first....kits.

 With the holidays around the corner I wanted to make something the girls could use in their holiday decor. 
 I embellished some matchboxes with my favorite Christmas image.

My friend Michelle makes the coolest ones! I was inspired by hers.

We spent the day creating beautiful altered bottles.

Tonda, Linda, Charlene, Charlotte, Lori & Jan did a wonderful job.

In fact, they really didn't need my help.

 All done up in 'low color' as Beth calls it.

 I really look forward to these little classes. 

We just gab & laugh.

Share stories of our latest vintage conquests... you know. 

The day just flies by.

And at the end, there were 6 totally amazing altered bottles.

Art bottle roll call

 Lori, Tonda, Linda, Charlene, Jan, & Charlotte.

Pretty impressive, huh?

 Maureen does a great job of hosting these workshops

& on Sunday Cottage Panache was fluffed to perfection in holiday goodness!

I wish these pictures were better.

 Her tree was just gorgeous.

Loaded with the unique ornaments, both new, old & handmade.

See anything you like??

I've had my eye on this Santos for a couple of weeks.

Love this!

Some great bedroom inspiration, something I really need right now.

Cottage Panache is open Monday~Thursday & Saturday.

 7277 Glenview Dr., Richland Hills, Tx. 76180

I want to share some give-away news before I go.

My precious friend Dawn is celebrating 1500 posts!

Can you even imagine?

I told her it should be us gifting her for blessing us day after day, year after year, with so much beauty, friendship & inspiration.

Go check out this post & enter to win!

The amazingly talented & fun Lesley Venable is having a give-away to kick start her new online store.

She's got some very cool vintage items as well as some one of a kind Christmas decor.  Handmade by Lesley of course.

Singing the Praises

Thanks to Lori,

(& Katie's Rose Cottage)

 I got my hands on an advanced copy of the new Somerset Life.

It's one of the best ever, so many yummy pictures & great artists.

Including one of my favorites The Tin Rabbit herself, Ann.

Making her publishing debut with not 1 but 2 features!

She wrote a great how-to article about her memory pillows.

Then Kelsi Maree Borland wrote a wonderful piece about Ann's hanging luggage pockets.  That sweetie Ann made one for me awhile back, I blogged about it here.

I feel so proud for her, it's pretty great seeing your art in print.

Way to make your publishing debut girlfriend!

I've been in love with Ann's art & amazing style since I discovered her blog & flickr page ages ago.  I am very inspired & influenced by her work. 

Many of my pieces are now adorned with one of her signature seam binding wads.

I blogger stalked this poor soul for months before a mutual friend convinced her I wasn't crazy.  Now I am proud to call her friend, & on November 6 I will meet her in the flesh at her Tin Rabbit Sale.

Speaking of stalking....I eventually wore this sweet girl down too!

Life has devoted a few pages to Karla's beautiful pieces. 

Oh I love these peat pots...

Especially this one!

In exactly 3 days I'll be partying with Karla & her partner in crime Beth, in Round Top.

Yippee!!!!!!!

(Okay girls, I wanna see you score a church lady hat for $5. there!)

There's another pretty cool feature in this issue! LOL

Remember these?

I taught a second group of gals my 'Elements of Collage' at Cottage Panache a couple of weeks ago.

Maureen did such a great job remodeling her darling shop & designing the perfect classroom.

I am surprised & humbled that people would actually pay to take a class from me.

I know times are tough & workshops are kind of a luxury. Because of that I work really hard to meet my students expectations, pulling out all the stops with great vintage supplies & sharing every trick I know.

But after seeing their finished pieces I wondered who was teaching who!

A precious picture from Charlotte's childhood became her inspiration.

She use a vintage wedding veil as the skirt of her piece & generously shared bits of it with all of us.

Diane combined many different elements & scraps of lace to create her lovely collage.

My Paper Cowgirl buddy Sherry also used a family photo to personalize her work.

She has a great blog Lace And A Few Button's, go say hi!

Another Paper Cowgirl alum Linda, used a pair of Dawns slippers to embellish her collage.

I love how she framed a page from a Victorian autograph book with lace.

My running buddy Charlene from My Hearts Ease did an outstanding job on her collage.

 (of course, all of her art is beautiful)

Like I said, who was teaching who?

I'm very passionate about teaching & do it for totally selfish reasons.  It's certainly not about the money.  If I added up the time spent preparing, the supplies & everything else that goes into a workshop I would go crazy. 

 Also deadlines are not my friend, so I'm usually busting my booty into the late hours getting it all together. 

Around this time I tell myself this is the last time!

Then I set up the table......

the girls arrive & the process begins.

In the end we've spent a glorious day sharing  ideas, stories, supplies & laughs.  It's so rewarding, I learn so much from everyone & float away feeling totally renewed!

Thank you Charlotte, Linda, Charlene, Diane & Sherry for spending your day with me!

Inspiration Friday!

Hi friends,

did you think the kids tied me up & locked me in a closet?

No, just in a blogging funk.

But I'm feeling like my old self & want to dedicate this

Inspiration Friday post to my love of all things spooky!

Halloween is my second favorite holiday.

My favorite bird.....the Crow.

Favorite poet.....well you know.

I'm a ghoul, I admit it.

I buy up all the special issue mags on the newsstands.

And devour every ghostly book I can find.

But to me,

the Witchiest Woman of them all

(& I mean that in the best way)

is Debbie of Curious Sofa.



Someday I want will go to her Halloween open house.

Until then I hang around waiting for the party pics.

And each year is more ghastly than the last!

Heads Hats off to you Debbie!

For more inspiration check out the other Debs blog!

(All pictures borrowed from BH&G.com & Curious Sofa)

Looking for something fun to do this weekend??

Looking for some great vintage treasures?

Look no further.

Maureen is having one of her awesome Sidewalk Sales!

Cottage Panache Antiques

Saturday September 18

7277 Glenview Drive

North Richland Hills, Texas

817-595-4040

There are cool vendors, including my sweet friend Pat of My Tattered Elegance,

Penny & Tracey from Lonestar Antique Mall, Linda Kinnaird Jewery will be selling some of her fabulous designs, & of course my picker extraordinaire Alisia!

To see evidence of her insane picking abilities check out my post about Maureen's last sale here. 

 I'll be there bright & early looking for rust & lace!