A Little Shopping

I haven't done much shopping for myself over the past year. Most of my shopping has been at the home improvement stores buying paint and other carpentry supplies. Today I decided to go to Macy's since I had some gift cards. They were having a big sale and I found a pair of Calvin Klein shorts half price, plus an extra 15% off for using my Macy's credit card. But then I didn't really use the credit card since I had the gift card so the sales woman changed it around and gave me the 15% anyway. Nice!

I also bought THREE purses! Do I NEED three purses? No. But these were all cute and the right size and functional. So often when I'm looking for a purse, they just aren't practical. I don't want a purse that's too deep. I want one that opens wide so I can actually get my wallet in and out. I want little places to keep keys, cell phone, lip gloss, all that stuff. Well, I was delighted that these three all had those features and were on sale, too. (Plus, the 15% if I used my Macy's card.)

This one photographs the best. It's a Fossil, made of cloth with a protective coating. The zipper unzips all the way down the sides and inside there are removable zippered pouches, so I can transfer those to another purse if I want! Cool.
These two don't photograph as well, but they're super cute in person. One is hot pink and the other is silver. The pink one has leopard fabric inside. The silver one is almost square. Fat and cute. :-)
I also stopped at my favorite flea market, on the hunt for a shelf I could hang over my stove. I didn't find anything that would work but I couldn't pass up this beautiful pink chenille bedspread. It's in mint condition and it was only $17.50! Things are never that cheap at flea markets! I think it makes a nice throw for my living room and it matches the paint almost perfectly. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed myself.

What I've Been Up To....

All along my block the sidewalks are made of brick. It's so pretty but since my house sat vacant for two years the grass and weeds started staking their claim, over and between the bricks. I didn't want to use poison to get things cleaned up so I've been using good old-fashioned muscle. I'm always trying to find tasks that use my arm power because I don't want to get bat wing arms! Ha
I am only about a quarter of the way finished with the job but it's looking quite nice. My lawn could use some help...it's an unusual mix of grass, weeds and clover, but that's okay. It could look worse I'm sure and I can feed the clover to my bunny, Buster, so it's all good.
I also wanted to show a couple photos from my bedroom. I don't think I posted this photo of my cat, Winky, lying on my bed. If I already did, I apologize.
And then I wanted to show off my new lamp shade. This lamp had a shade that looked a little too froo-froo for me. I like the clean lines and the white linen fabric. The lamp originally had bronze accents but I painted over them with a silver paint pen.
I've been staying busy learning more about my Brazilian neighbor. My wonderful handyman, Troy, has been working hard to get a floor in her kitchen. He has a big heart and has been donating his time to help her out. The floor is about halfway done...joists and plywood, that is. But at least it's no longer a dirt hole with rickety walls! I am hoping that has given her a boost and she's feeling better about her situation.

Today I spoke with her and she really wants nothing for herself. She said she just wants to make a nice bedroom for her six-year old daughter. So, that's going to be my focus for now and then whatever else comes up, we'll tackle that. I just don't want her thinking she is all alone with no one to turn to.

I hope you all have a good weekend and get to spend time with the people you love!

New Kits and This and That

I wasn't feeling creative for a few weeks because I was busy settling into my new life. I still have so much more to do! More about that later. I did stop on my house projects for a bit though to work on some new products and I'm glad I did. I really like this new collection called Primaeval Pathways.

Primaeval Pathways Scrapbook Pack

Primaeval Pathways Paper Pack

Primaeval Pathways Element Pack

Primaeval Pathways Alphabet Pack
Jane created these two neat layouts for me. She has a shop at Funky Playground Designs called 4 Shades of Blue. Check her out! She's very creative.

And Tracy, a member of The Digichick creative team created this winner! Beautiful stuff.
I just got this beauty from Jen today. I LOVE IT! You chicks are all so talented and I'm thankful to have you there to help me show off my creations.
I haven't done any more painting yet at my house. I've mostly been unpacking and organizing and trying to decide what can be sold at a yard sale and what I can keep or toss. I think I could have a great yard sale. I have some nice things that I just don't need or want anymore.

I met the woman who lives across the street from me and you know that saying "There, but for the Grace of God, go I"? Well, that applies in this situation! I thought I had it bad when my husband had a mid-life crisis, destroyed our marriage and left me homeless and destitute. My neighbor is from Brazil. She can barely speak English. She is living in a house that should have been condemned and demolished and she's there because she is divorced and this is where she ended up. Apparently, her husband owned this property, if you could call it that, and was going to sell it. Her attorney worked to get the property for her so she would have SOMEWHERE to live. She has a six year old daughter who lives with the ex. I don't know the whole story because I can't understand her very well but no matter what happened in her marriage, the situation she's in now is HORRIBLE! She says her daughter can't stay at the house with her because it's unsafe. The house is big and old and rickety in places. The kitchen had terrible water damage and mold and now is just a dirt hole with walls. She has NO KITCHEN. She has a tiny dorm-sized refrigerator and a microwave. I don't even know if she has a bed. No air-conditioning. No washer and dryer. No car.

I talked to Troy, the handyman who installed my TV antenna, and bless his heart he has offered to help her for free. She had given some money to a man to help her fix the kitchen and he hasn't completed the job, but of course still has her money. That man said he's not sure what to do about the kitchen floor and wall situation so he just left it....a dirt hole. Troy is working to get some floor joists in place so that the original guy who baled on her can come back and finish the job he started. But if you could see this house you would be shocked. If you could see her living conditions you would be embarrassed for our society and for the men who don't take responsibility for the commitments they make. It upsets me!

But, in spite of all that, she has a surprising resilience and chipper attitude. She's bubbly and kind. I hope things continue to improve and that maybe I can find some other people to give her a helping hand. I'm going to do what I can. I gave her some towels and asked if she needed anything else. She asked me for a blanket because she doesn't have a blanket for her daughter if she comes to visit. I gave her a giant down comforter that I never use and some pillows. Sigh! This is when I wish I would win the lottery. I could do so much more.

Sneak Peek

Here's a little sneak peek of the collection I have debuting this week at The Digichick.

Update

I've been a bit MIA this past week or so. I've been trying to get my house unpacked and organized. It's small so I have to make sure I take advantage of the space I have in the right way. I've been digging through boxes trying to locate things that I need and I'm putting together a pile of things I can sell at a yard sale. I think it'll be a good sale...lots of interesting things!

Recently, my uncle built me a new computer desk that looks like a farm table. I need to get that painted so I can transfer my computer off of this card table that it's on right now! I had a computer desk before but it was too big and too modern to be in this house so I'm excited about this new desk.

Over the weekend I spent time trying to organize my art supplies. It's not there yet, but at least things are out of boxes and accessible now! Hopefully, I can actually do some creating again.

I still need to get some storage containers...or something to hold a little of this and a little of that.
There are just so many things to do and I feel like I've barely done a thing! But, I did take some time to rent a couple movies and just RELAX. That was fun...sitting around being lazy in my little house. That's a good feeling.

House Photos

I've been unpacking and organizing my belongings. I haven't made much of a dent. There's so much more to do but I thought I'd share what I've done so far.
Here are some photos of my living room. It still looks a bit stark but it's better than it was. :-)

And here are a couple photos of the dining room which I'm using as a creative space. My father made this counter-height table for me about three years ago and I painted it.

I have major plans for the kitchen but I won't be able to get to that for awhile so in the meantime I think I'll paint the walls and cabinets. I have new hinges and handles for the cabinets and drawers. This is what the kitchen looks like right now. It definitely needs work!

And last of all, here is the little armoire I bought at Target so I'll have some storage in the bathroom.
Now...back to the unpacking! I'll definitely have to do a yard sale in a few months!

Spotlight and Freebie for You

At The Digichick for the month of May, in honor of their five year anniversary, we're having a big month long party and you get all the gifts. :-) Each designer has been given a day to shine in the spotlight and May 8th is MY DAY...Quirky Twerp Day! Woo hoo That means, for YOU, the products in my shop are 30% off for 24 hours. Also, in appreciation of all my customers, here's a little freebie. Click the link or the image, either one.

And, here's a cute layout that Digichick creative team member, Jacinda, created with my freebie. What a great idea!

Officially in My House!

I'm here! The dogs, the cat and the bunny are here. The internet is working. The TV is on for extra company. There are boxes everywhere but we're here in our new home. I'm getting things unpacked slowly. It's hard to do when I packed up 11 months ago. It's a little more difficult to remember where things are and I have also forgotten what I own! I didn't remember that I had about 18 pillows! Ha I bought a new pillow for my bed so that I'd have two and then I discovered that I had a BUNCH more that had been in pillow shams. So, if we have a slumber party, don't worry about bringing your pillows because we're good! :-)

Now, for a little reveal. These are my new kits for this week. A little bit of baby love. And the great thing about this line is that it isn't gender specific so bring on the boys AND the girls!

Sweet Little Dreams Paper Pack

Sweet Little Dreams Element Pack
Have a great weekend!

Sneak Peek

Here's a little sneak peek of a kit I have debuting on Thursday. Bring out your baby photos! :-)

Also, it's time for $2.00 Tuesday and this time I actually KNOW it's Tuesday and I won't disable all the products I JUST put up for sale! Ha

We are still having our Birthday Bash all month at The Digichick so check that out, too. Lots of stuff going on.

I've been back and forth from my house and my parents' house. Just spent a couple nights at my house. I have my DSL but the UPS man didn't leave my modem on my porch when he was supposed to deliver it and he didn't let me know that he didn't leave it. So, I have been waiting for my modem to arrive and wondering where it was. It ended up getting sent back to AT&T. So frustrating! Because of that I haven't been able to take my computer to my house yet. Hopefully I'll have my modem tomorrow and can get all that up and running! And get officially moved in!!!

New Kits and Update

There has been so much going on....I've been trying to take care of things at my house, my clients have projects that need to be taken care of and I had kits to put together for Quirky Twerp. It has all made me a little bit spacey so please forgive me if I've dropped the ball somewhere along the way.

I have a new May Grab Bag. It will be available the entire month for $3.25. Here's a sneak peek.

It's also The Digichick's Fifth Birthday Bash and there are all kinds of birthday products available that coordinate with our Studio 365 products. Mix and match and everything still goes together.
Here's a preview of my banner kit, Birthday Bash 365 Banners & Frames.
I spent the first official night at my house last night. It was a little weird and I must admit a little sad, too. I don't have television service yet or internet service so it was my dogs, me and the radio. The dogs were so confused! I spent the evening assembling a storage cabinet for the bathroom. It's cute. I got it at Target so you KNOW it's cute. :-) I haven't taken a photo yet but I will.

It's just not the life I wanted for myself and I miss my husband! But, I'll adjust...it'll get better. It has to, right?