Say Goodbye to Summer




( Quote by Humbert Wolfe. All credit to the wonderful artist, whoever they may be)

                                                                The last day of Summer.

Parting is, such sweet sorrow.  It was a busy Summer. Filled with wedding plans and preparations. Now my daughter is an "old married Woman"... it's been over a month!  How fast time flew, since she announced her engagement in February 2010. 

And now this memorable Summer is about to end.

I love what follows.... AUTUMN!

We've already had some pretty cool temperatures, which were so welcome, after a very hot Summer. It just seems it's coming too soon. I'm  not ready for the warm weather to leave just yet.

I just couldn't resist..... Making Chili last week. The very minute the temps. dip into the 60's... I crave Chili!... oh.. and Navy Bean and Bacon... which I just finished making tonight! Ya...after a trip to the grocery store yesterday, getting all the ingredients.. and forgetting one....... THE BEANS!... duhh.

Which, made me want it even more!!!...so, reluctantly.. I went BACK to the store.  Got home and started cookin!  I always like it the next day, when all the flavors have blended.. ohh mmm!... hungry?

Yesterday, was my Dad's birthday.... he would have been 93. He passed away in 1993. I can't imagine him at 93.. but wish I could.

So next on my agenda...... YA! YA!

Coming up in October! it will be our 9th! 

what is YA YA?...

well it's actually called

"Mothers and Daughter Spirit Celebration Day"... 

A day when most of the females in our family, gather to have fun, celebrate all the great women in our family, who came before us, and each other... oh and lots of food and fun!  We all wear silly, wonderful handmade hats.. no hat no admittance! : )

We started calling it YA YA... at our first celebration, when we met everyone at the door and shouted YA YA!... it stuck... and easier to say then "happy mothers and daughters spirit celebration day"... !

Again, we'll celebrate at "our" (rented) cottage on the shores of  beautiful Lake Erie. I just got the "official" invite in the mail today. Hosting this year, is our cousin Kathy.. or "Kacky".. as we've always called her.. ( I don't know why?)... with her daughter Kerry.  Up till now, my 3 sisters and I, have taken turns hosting.  I'm really looking forward to to Kathy and Kerry hosting this time.

The little Yaya's.....or "Petites" as we like to call them,  (grand children of my sisters and cousin)...are growing up so fast..... and really love and look forward this happy day. Last year, my great niece Maddy, woke up singing "It's Ya Ya day.. It's Ya Ya day!!"...it killed her father to have to tell her, she was singing a day too early!  LOL. To the Petites,  it's a fun filled day of seeing their little cousins, doing crafts, learning a little bit about their great grandmothers and aunt who have  "gone on to that big YA YA celebration in the sky) and playing on the beach (if the weather is good) ...Oh.. and of course presents! We have a gift exchange every year..  you know they love that!

The "Elders".. Me, my sisters and cousin.... really look forward to it.  And our daughters.. (we still haven't found a name for them yet).... enjoy it too.. well most of them. Some think it's kinda . ... silly? But still enjoy seeing each other.. and the food of course.

I hope our moms, aunts, cousins and ancestors are smiling down and happy that we celebrate them in this special way!

I've already got an ART project planned for us, that I think everyone will enjoy..... SHHHH don't tell!

Also, I'll  be hosting next year! the 10th!..... wow..... !! I "invented" and hosted the very first "Mothers & Daughters Celebration" (aka: ya ya)... in 2003. Hosted again for the 5th....and I get the 10th too yippee! I'll have to make it big and fun!

So, over the next couple weeks, I'll be printing pics from last year's YA YA, to add to the scrapbook I started. ( I only had a year to print them right?)....I'm so glad I did. It's soo fun to look back at the passed 8 years! I also include a "highlights" page, and the invitation.

Here, are just a few pictures from last years YA YA...enjoy!

Enjoying breakfast and a toast with our traditional Mimosas!

                                     

The first year it was warm and sunny enough to play on the beach. The little Petites loved it!

  

It wouldn't be YA YA without crafts in the evening!

"Our" pier, just steps from "our" cottage. The lake just adds to the awesomeness of the day

Love those hats!



Great niece Anna.. just seconds from getting hit with that wave!
she LOVED IT!



Cousins Emily and Emily Rose, working on the
Ya Ya wall of Fame



Trying to gather the YA YAs for our annual photo..... not easy..
but glad the picnic table held out!



So.... I'm looking forward to AUTUMN.

                         I just hope it lingers ... because I'm NOT looking forward to what follows.

GOBLINS MOON

I've created a new HALLOWEEN BLOG!
(click on the pic to visit)
Anyone who knows me.... KNOWS how much I love Halloween! I don't know why I never thought of this before....but suddenly..... (after visiting a dozen very cool Halloween blogs..)...  it occurred to me, to create one for myself.
So, I hope you'll check it out and while you're there, feel free to check out some of my favorite Blogs, and Halloween sites.
I've also got a few Halloween inspired jewelry pieces on Etsy....if you're interested! Click my "ARTKISSED SHOP" button on the right sidebar.


 HALLOWEEN will be here soon!.....do you have your costume yet???

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN...

Back in the saddle?.....Well....so to speak....
I'm back in my ART room... and doing more than just watching TV and playing on the computer.
I've been in a year-long Artist "dry spell"... just wasn't feeling very creative, no matter how much art material I bought.
Okay, yes, I did make and sell some jewelry.. and still am.
But my "playin'-in-the-paint" kinda  creativity, was really low. I missed it! thought I lost it!

My daughter's wedding, kept me busy and also side tracked, I had a lot to do, make invites.shower stuff, find "the dress" (mine) etc. etc. ........as wonderful as it all was, I'm glad that "normal life" has resumed.
...And nothing like Halloween, to get me back in the mood. With so many ideas now, I don't know what to do first....and this is a good thing!

I've just listed on Etsy. The first time in a long time! In fact, I didn't even know they had a new listing format, that's how long it's been! I've listed a few Halloween jewelry pieces to get rolling and hopefully more art to follow soon.

I was in a Polymer Clay mood This Labor day weekend. It was so perfect. On Friday and Saturday, the temperature was 92 and soo humid!....  Sunday and Monday?.... high 68, rainy,  cool and breezy! PERRRRFECT!!! (thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Lee).... I had the windows open wide.. and I watched the ever changing cloud show, while I worked. It wasn't just  overcast, the clouds were all shades of Grey, Wild and moody,  I just adore days like that! makes me  feel  so relaxed and cozy.

I had several ideas for Halloween designs... but you know how it goes... my creativity took a turn, and those ideas, headed in a whole different direction.  Sometimes you just got to let the ART lead...
I love the way  they're turning out..... (hope you like em too.) They will be the focal piece of the necklaces. They were supposed to be Halloween themed, but now they're not!... although, I would still like to make some with Halloween designs. Anyway.. check them out in their  not quite finished phase... I'll be adding the necklace portions (hopefully) this weekend! Can't wait to see how they turn out!

I found this really cool "Granite" Polymer Clay.

These are embellished with some favorite sayings.

one of those "light-bulb" moments... "gilding these pieces with a

Champagne colored shimmery paint!.. love those moments!

I finished them (pic coming soon) by filling the center spaces

with "Ice Resin"... love the dimension it added.



Before paint and text...looking a little Medieval, or Goth without the shimmery paint...

perfect for Halloween text imagery

Polymer Clay Pendant,
 featuring a print of my original Witch sketch

 Bracelet with glass beads.

I hired a model to help show some work....

She really needs to eat a little more! :-p

  The week is flying and the weekend will be here again soon...yesss!
BFF Gloria, is coming over on Saturday,   I'm going to be making  "Garlic buttered Bread Bacon Burgers" with "Fresh cut" French Fries... and..... and...Onion Rings, and fresh Ranch for dipping.... .. Oh I can feel my pants getting tight just thinking about it... but hey... sometimes ya just gotta right?

As I end this post, I just noticed it's raining again... God, I love that sound. It's amazing how it can be so peaceful and calming.

See ya later!