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Sunday, December 30, 2007
COMING SOON!
I'll probably have a few things added to my Etsy shop this evening!
so... stay tuned!
...............GOOOO BROWNS!!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
LONG WEEKEND
and I feel like crap. It's been coming on for days. First the raspy throat, just before Christmas. then yesterday, it began. Sneezing, runny nose, throbbing head. Oh well.
I must have looked pathetic at work today, because they let me go home. I was glad of that! Stopped at the store to get a box of Puffs PLUS... a must have, and Dayquil... well, the generic Walmart version. Much cheaper, works just as well.
I came home, and with tissues in hand, went to bed. The good part is that I made it through Christmas without being sick. I have no New Years Eve plans. I will bring in the New Year making art, and watching Dick Clark's New Year Rockin' Eve. Poor Dick.
The (Fake) Gerber Daisy photo, was taken on Christmas day. It was a beautiful sunny, snowless day.
The collage, is a gift from my sister Susan. It's a copy of her original collage, and I love it, and I love what it says:
"Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister.....~Alice Walker~
Susan's abstract collages, are simply gorgeous!
I'm trying to convince her to start selling online at Etsy, and I think she's gonna do it! She says she's getting a new computer soon, and wants me to help her get set up with an Etsy Shop! Her art is so beautiful, and I think she will do very well.
So... I'm excited about having a chance to do art all weekend. I have lots of ideas with Valentine themes, and for Spring too. The days are starting to get longer instead of shorter now, and I love that. Soon, When I leave work at 6p.m. it will be light out!
... ouch.. my ribs are starting to get sore from all the sneezing!.... sorry.. I'll quit whining now. It's just a cold.
I REMEMBER THEM..................
I've been thinking about some of the things I used to love as a kid
and things I miss, and wish I still had. Like what you ask? here's a list, in no particular order.
How many do you remember?
1-POP BEADS
these were so cool! Little plastic beads, that came out of the gumball machine. they "popped" together, and you could make a cool necklace! They came in light Blue, Pink, Red, Yellow,
Cream & White.
2-MY PINK PRINCESS PHONE
With lighted dial of course. I got one, in 1972 when my parents bought our new house. I had my own room, up in the attic, and had my own phone. Why didn't I take that phone with me when I left!
3-MOSQUITO CHASERS
An odd thing I know. But I loved the way they smelled. You could get them 2 for a penny, at the neighborhood store, which happened to be right next door to us. They were long sticks, like incense, and my sisters and I would swirl them around, to make the lit end glow. Hmmm.. can't believe I was playing with something like that!
4-THE "WINNER"Another gumball machine related thing. The winner, was a little inedible ball, the same size as a gumball. It was usually Yellow, with 2 Red stripes. Getting the Winner was very exciting!!! it meant you got a prize from the store clerk! I got the Winner once.... I remember my heart pounding! I don't even remember what the prize was... But I GOT THE WINNER!!
5-PLAYING MOVIE STAR
First, the sunglasses that cost a dime. They were flat, and hooked around your ears. The plastic lenses were green. Oh, and the so cool "high heels'. Plastic, with elastic straps. After just a few steps, the heels usually cracked off. I also loved buying rings from the neighborhood store. He would present me with a tray of rings, all stuck in foam rubber. They were so sparkly! I could look very Chic for just a dime.
6-PENNY CANDY
Oh what a treat. The store clerk, would get that tiny little brown bag, and stand so patiently, as I made my selections. My favorites? "Maryjanes" "Red hot Dollars" "Tootsie Rolls" "Flying Saucers" "Button Candy" "Pixie Stix" "Lick em ade" and let's not forget the little Marshmallow "Ice cream Cones".... My kids still buy them for me! Oh, and Nickel bags of potato chips.
Lots of good eating for just 10 cents...... hey... why is there no "cent" sign on the keyboards???
7-SITTING ON THE PORCHSuch a simple thing. On a hot summer night, families would sit out side, neighbors would sit on the steps and visit for hours. We would be chasing lightning bugs, or play Badminton under the street lights.
8-COLORINGNothing better than a fat new coloring book, and fresh crayons. Some coloring books were better than others. My favorites always had thick lined pictures, of chubby little girls, flowers, and other charming images. Many happy hours were spent coloring.
9-GHOULARDI Ok.... this one is a local Cleveland thing. Ghoulardi was a local TV host, on Friday nights. In the beginning, he was scary. Then he just got so fun and silly! He always showed B movies, that I now have such a fondness for. His real name was Ernie Anderson. He went on to do voice overs for lots of well known tv shows. I am actually wearing my Ghoulardi sweatshirt right now It was a gift from My kids, about 10 years ago. It's one of my very favorite things.
.
10-BARBIES Truth is, my girlfriends and I never actually played Barbies. We were too busy building their "houses" I remember dragging a whole box of stuff to use for Barbie's house. A book, 4 hair rollers and a scarf would be transformed into her bed. A square pin cushion for her pillow. Tiny boxes transformed into sofas, tables, and dressers. I had such an imagination! My friend Diana and I secretly competed to create the best house.
So.. that's just 10 things I remember fondly. What's yours?
So many things. I think I'll have to have make another list.
It's now it's 3 a.m. I'm watching "Cheers"
I'm feeling pretty wiped out, and I think I'll go to sleep soon. Hopefully, I'll feel better when I get up, and I can get into the art room and do art!
Have a great weekend! and...
HAPPY, HEALTHY, PEACE FILLED NEW YEAR!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
DOODLING
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
CHRISTMAS DAY...sights from my Christmas Eve
and nieces.
Nephew in law Brian, nephew Scott, Niece Emily
Son Eddie
This years hostess, was my sister Susan. My kids, hers, and her grandchildren, spent Christmas Eve together. Eating laughing, and exchanging gifts.
The food was great! We dined on a huge Honey-Baked Ham, Italian Sausage, Rigatoni, Lemon Pepper Chicken, .. and our family's traditional Fillet Gumbo, a true southern dish.
pounds of cookies, chocolate, and dips!
It was a great evening spent with people I truly love!
Christmas day for me, is a day to relax and do absolutely nothing! ahhhhhhhhhhhh...
264 days till the next Christmas!
I'll be heading to sister Rita's house on New Year's day, for THE BEST Pork & Sauerkraut IN THE WORLD!!... Really!
ahhh the flavor is amazing, and sooo tender, it melts in your mouth!...of course a mountain of Mashed Potato's too!
Well... It's 6:30 p.m..
Another Christmas is almost over.
Here in Cleveland, it was snow less and Sunny... a rare sight to be sure!
I hope you had a great holiday too.
~MaryEllen~
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Merry Christmas... and Happy Holiday's
Look!....
It's a photo of a painting my dad did, many, many years ago. (early 1960's?) He carried the photo in his wallet, by the looks of it, for a very long time. My dad passed away in 1993 at age 74.
He was very artistic. I remember this painting hanging on our living room wall.
I love that you can see the painting in the background, of the photo of me at Christmas...about 1962?...with my baby doll, and very favorite "Suzy Smart" doll. the toy phone would be sign of things to come....I'm now an Operator for a catalog sales company. Why couldn't that be a toy cash register instead? : P
It was very large, about 2'x 3'... under glass. My dad loved painting Winter scenes. He didn't have many art supplies, and I'll bet this painting was done on a discarded piece of cardboard, as were many of his paintings. looking at the painting, I wonder what his inspiration was, and what memories of his, were incorporated in this painting. He did grow up on a farm, not to far from where I live. We had the pleasure of visiting there a long time ago, but it didn't look like this at all.
I am ashamed to admit the fact, that I had the painting when I got married. When we moved, I left the painting behind!... what was I thinking?
I didn't know then, what a cherished thing it was.
So. I scanned the 2 x 3 inch photo, at 500 dpi, and it came out pretty clear! and luckily, the main part of the painting is not severely damaged, although, the photo itself, is aged and badly cracked. I tried to digitally repair it the best I could, then using my favorite, simple photo program "LIVE PIX"... I laid semi-transparent layers of color, section by section, diminishing the "crackle" while still allowing the original painting to show through.
I'm pretty happy with the results, considering what I had to work with. I thought the picture would make a wonderful Christmas ornament, to give to my family!
Of course, I never get these brainstorms weeks before, no... I get them hours before. I have to make 16 ornaments, and I've already printed and glued the images on card stock, and decorated the edges. I just have to antique the edges, and attach a string for hanging. I'll also add a little note to the back, giving the history of the painting.
I hope my family will forgive me for leaving the painting behind.
I just watched the Browns lose... and now we're at the mercy of another team, to get into the play offs. ohh well.
I'm going to make Christmas cookies in a little while. Our family favorite "Crescent Cookies"... They're not actually crescent shaped, but round, with a thumbprint, with powdered sugar, and colored sugar. The recipe is common, but I love these cookies!... to me, this is what Christmas tastes like!
My girls and I were supposed to make them together, as we do every year, but schedules got in the way, and it's just gonna be me rolling all those little cookie dough balls.
I'll be going to my sister Susan's house Christmas eve. Most of my family will be there. I love seeing them all, but will be glad when the Holiday's are over.. and everything goes back to normal. .......sorry if I've already mentioned that a million times in previous posts!
Thanks for reading my Blog
I wish you and your families a Very Merry Christmas.. or whatever holiday you celebrate.. (being PC xoxo)
And a Wonderful, New Year filled with good health, and peace!
xoxoox
~MaryEllen
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!
on it's way.. I'm bad!
The little package below, is one of my latest sales, ready to be shipped. 3 custom collage magnets... (see them in one of my recent Blogs) I like to make the packaging special. I imagine people opening each one, like a little gift! I don't like boring packages. They wrapping should be just as fun as what's inside right?
Well. It's almost.. no.. it is.. "HUMP DAY".. And Christmas is fassst approaching. I am soo not in the Christmas mood. Right now, it's just something to get over with. So, I have to work this Saturday 8 a.m-2p.m kinda good, that I'll be up, and when I get out of work, still have the better part of the day left. Much better than working in the evening!....Hmmm.. I'll bet it will be really slowww.. and I'll get sent home early!
I don't know if I'm brave enough to try and do any Christmas shopping, the last Saturday before Christmas!... ugghhhh.
I plan on getting busy making some Christmas gifts the whole weekend. I'm a "last minute" kind of person, and my creativity will flow ..... I hope! I haven't a clue what to make. But I'm hoping I'll have a "light bulb" moment, and make something wonderful, that everyone will love!
Happy Hump Day!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Welcome to Cleveland
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
MY DAY OF FUN
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
SNOW DAY!
a "Slow" day!
Yes!... a day off.
I work for a catalog company, and the Closer we get to Christmas, the slower it gets at work. (Pleople realize they won't get their orders in time for Christmas) So yesterday at work, they posted a sign up sheet for anyone who wanted to be called, if the call volume was slow, and you didn't want to come in.
This morning, I had just stepped out of the shower, when the call came... "hi.. you don't have to come in today!"
"Oh, ok, thanks".. I said... and hung up.
I actually did the famous fist pump.... and shouted YEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!.. and I did a major happy dance right there in the bathroom!!!!
It's so nice to suddenly have a whole day to play!
I'm enjoying a quick breakfast, coffee.. (with Pepsi on the side.. ).. catching a bit of "MARTHA"
then I'm off to the art room to work on some custom orders. Then I'll get to the post office.
Have a good day!
Friday, December 07, 2007
A LONG TIME AGO...
An old painting I did wayyyyy back in 1972!
I did the painting when I was in Jr. High school. It was a portrait of my friend Winnie, who is still one of my closest, dearest friends.
She just moved, and while packing, came across this painting! I couldn't believe she saved it all these years! She asked If I wanted it, and of course I said yes. I'm going to hang it in my art room.
It's not a bad painting, if I do say so myself.
It was painted in Tempra paints! which as you may know, is not the easiest to work with.
Anyway, it was fun to see this old painting again.
Thank you Winnie, for saving it. And for 39 years of friendship! I love ya!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
TAAAH DAHHHHHH....
Saturday, December 01, 2007
GO GOOGLE YOURSELF!!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
ARTIN'
The heart, is a custom piece I just did, for an Etsy customer.
She had me make a "First Christmas" ornament. She just got married in July. I feel kinda special, thinking that maybe this ornament will be a treasured keepsake, that they'll look at every Christmas.
I just sold the "Snowman" greeting card/ornament, and two others, to a repeat customer. I love when they come back!
I give my kids an ornament every year. This year, I made them ones, using an old picture of MOI! when I was about 7 years old.
I remember taking that photo. Wearing that dress, and my mom telling me "don't get dirty" or something like that.
I love that photograph. There aren't very many pictures of me when I was little. I love that its at Christmas, and most of all, I love that you can see the painting in the back. It was done by my father.
Work was busier then I expected it to be. I guess everyone is scrabbling to get their orders in, and shipped out in time for Christmas. I think it will be very slow next week.
I'm excited that I don't have to work a weekend, till Dec 22nd!!!!! ahhhh. I have all these weekends to myself! I'm hoping to get more greeting card/ornaments made and listed on Etsy.
We've been lucky with the weather so far. We did have our first snow on Thanksgiving. Most of it came overnight, while Gloria and I were up alllllll night, working on an art project. It was good, because by the time she went home at 11:30 a.m Friday... the roads were dry. I helped clean off her car.. and I hate cleaning the cars! The ice.. the scraping..the snow blowing back in your face!!! GGGRRRRR.. & brrrrrrr.. !
Sunday, November 25, 2007
LEFTOVERS...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
QUESTIONS...AND ANSWERS...
TAKEN FROM THE AWESOME BLOG: "Ink on my Fingers"...
I couldn’t resist doing too. I haven't even read the questions yet.. so here goes....
*a special talent:
I can turn one eye in, and keep the other straight. Amazing isn't it?
*a secret nobody knows:
Sometimes when I'm craving Chocolate late at night, I will take a giant swig right from
the bottle of Hershey's Syrup.... tell me you've never done it!
*a personality trait you find attractive:
confidence.....it's sexy don't you think?
*a personality trait you find unattractive:
conceitedness
*a song that melts you:
"You Send Me"... by Michael Bolton
*the biggest truth you have learned this year:
That things don't always go the way you plan them, but God will guide you.
*an item you are currently coveting:
My Sterling Silver "Artist Palette" necklace. I just got a new chain for it, and I can finally wear it again. It's my most favorite piece of jewelery.
*what gives you peace :
My Faith in God
*what perfume are you currently wearing:
"Celine"... by Celine Dion
*do you dream much?:
Yes... awake, and asleep
*what word(s) do you tend to say too much:
" Oh Shit" "no kidding"
*in school, what kind of teen were you?:
The Class clown, friendly, and an insecure extrovert!
*describe yourself in 5 words:
Creative~witty~worrier~loyal~procrastinator
*have you ever been in love?:
yes ...and I really believe "It is better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved at all"
*a weird quirk?
I can't clean the house if I'm wearing slippers, or just socks, I have to put on "real" shoes.
*Has your heart ever been broken?:
Yes.. a few times.. but I got through it.
*favourite things to wear?:My Artist Palette necklace.. (again)... and anything comfortable.... like what I have on right now. A pair of Black sweat pants, and an over sized sloppy paint stained sweatshirt, socks, and slippers. My regular "at home" attire.
So... you might want to consider calling before stopping by... or what you see is what you get!
Monday, November 19, 2007
ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN, AND THE SKY IS GREY...
"My Friends Place" We visited a few art galleries, hit "The Flower Factory" and "Pat Catan's.. local craft stores here in Cleveland. Debbie ran into an old friend, Bernice, who coincidentally looks a lot like her! They were even wearing leather jackets! Weird! Even their daughters look alike! We ended up at one of our favorite restaurants called "Cheddars".. (formerly called Snickers) And I had my usual favorite Burger and a beer.