road trip!!

road trip!!, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

At last my sis and I are headed to Canton, TX to "The World's Largest Flea Market". We are leaving early tomorrow morning with our comfy shoes (I do not like "comfy shoes. I like PRETTY shoes, but will forego style for comfort just this once!), cooler full of non-junk food (if we want junk food, Canton has it!), granny rolling cart (a must for hauling treasures) and a very detailed wish list!! I am so excited as Sis has never been. She's a Canton virgin!!! She has been resting for 2 days in preparation. It is wise to conserve your strength prior to an endeavor of these porportions!
I am confident that the Flea Market Gods will be benevolent. I'll be back with a full report ASAP. My husband is having his knee surgery on Friday, so it may be the weekend before I can post my treasures.
Take care, friends! Adios!

WWJBD?

Well, I'm still here. Didn't have to go to rehab, and I'm not broke.

~Jimmy Buffett

the girls

the girls, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

I found these sweet gals at my favorite thrift store today. Aren't they pretty? There were more, but i restrained myself. I love how colorful they are. Of course the hula girl is my favorite!

magical bubble

magical bubble, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Ah, how nice to have a weekend with no tornado warnings. Yes, it was cool and rainy most of the day on Sunday, but there were no raging storms or spooky sirens going off. Today is absolutely beautiful!
I feel so out of the creative groove. I need to get back in my studio ASAP! I have finished my house redo except for a few little things and some decorating projects that I have to complete. My sis and I are going to Canton on Thursday and my husband is having knee surgery on Friday, so I am trying to just finish up the rest of my little tasks before then. Next week I hope to be back to creating and restocking my shop. Art Walk is the first weekend in June and I have lots to do for that.
I have been spending some time looking for a vacation spot. We usually have something booked a lot earlier than this, so I am scrambling a bit. The prospect of gas at 5 bucks a gallon has made me look for something closer than Florida (which we LOVE). Texas beaches are so awful, though. I am considering the Gulf Shores/Dauphin Island area. It is a a few hours closer. We have been spoiled by the Caribbean beaches. I really want to fly to Mexico or the Virgin Islands to some swanky all-inclusive, but airfare for 5 is crazy! Aaaarg... what to do? I suppose there are worse dilemas...
Well, Will and I are off to find goodies for Mark's post-surgery basket. He does not do well with sitting around, much less being stuck in bed, so I am going to try to find him some diversions.
Hope your Monday is sunny and peaceful.

Here's JoAnna's goodies from me for the Enchanted Swap(minus the sand castle). I will post a pic soon of the wonderful mermaid magic wand she sent to me!! I adore it!
I am off to McKinney to work in the shop today. Looks like more bad weather headed our way. Tornado season is very stressful. It is impossible (and foolish) to sleep when the weather map looks like someone spilled daygo paint on it! Aside from those pesky twisters, the weather is glorious. I love spring so much!

RAK

Heather from Specked Egg was so kind and sweet to organize a Random Act of Kindness for Mel (Little Melfie) who just had major surgery. I was thrilled to participate.
Here is my contribution...

and below is a shot of all the participants offerings assembled and ready to deliver.

Hopefully these items will cheer Mel as she heals.

visitor

visitor, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Look what was on our fence yesterday... a gorgeous luna moth. It was about 6 or 7 inches wide. So beautiful! It was like a live Lunesta commercial! Luna moths live in this adult stage for only one week. Long enough to mate and die. I'm thinking she should have gone to Disneyworld or Cozumel, not my fence for an afternoon of her short (though enchanting) life.

drumroll...

Believe it or not, my ridiculously massive spring cleaning is O V E R !!!! This weekend nearly killed my sister and I, but we have triumphed over clutter! Come on over and you can inspect my closets, garage, drawers, etc...With the priceless (I say that because I am not paying her!) help of my sister (AKA~ the Queen of Organizing) I have a remarkably tidy abode. We will be celebrating with an excursion to Canton ("The World's Largest Flea Market") on May 1st! Below you can see that we have donned some festive dresses and are strolling about enjoying the tidy life.

no more dilly-dallying

GG theater, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Ok, off the computer and on to my chores on this gloomy Thursday. I'd ratther take a nap, which I never do, but it seems like a napping sort of day.
Ah, well, I am shaking off my lethargy and getting busy! (with my CHORES!!, that is!)...

Here's my sweet Will with his Trailblazer Award. It is an award for citizenship. Will is so kind and thoughtful. We are so proud of him and blessed by his sweet and tender heart.

at last!

Tonight The Time Bandit, The Cornelia Marie, The Wizard and the rest of the fleet take to the Bering Sea for the start of the 2008 opelio crab fishing season. I think this makes me happier than it should!

Nora

Nora, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

So, it is chilly here today and I am weary of it.
Tonight my youngest (Will) receives a citizenship award. Isn't that nice? He is a very sweet and kind boy.
I am hoping to grab a minute of art time sometime today... maybe after the awards ceremony. I have nests to build!!

sleepless in Dallas

I love springtime so much! As a person who barely survives the dull, cold days of winter, spring is truly a new beginning. I savor every budding flower, chirping bird and ray of golden sunlight. But, here in Tornado Alley spring also brings some nasty storms. Last week we had two rough nights. You watch the weather on TV (until your power goes off) and contemplate shoving your entire family into your "safe" (ha!ha!) place (AKA~ the closet under the stairs). It is really unnerving. One of our bad nights last week actually produced a F-1 tornado in our area. We were lucky and only had roof damage, part of our fence down and the tiki bar and the grill tumbled. The wind was fierce and at 4:00 am it seemed like something straight out of hell.
Needless to say everyone watches the weather reports pretty intently around here for the next few months... and sleeps lightly.

Seanna~ Sea Sprite & Sparklette

Seanna, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

It is a beautiful, but cool Sunday. I am off to sort paperwork. UGH! It must be done, though. I am reminding myself how great I will feel when I'm finished. As a reward I am going to allow myself some studio time this afternoon! YEA!

Maribelle

Maribelle, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Yesterday I moved Maribelle to this open type jar (sort of like a terrarium). She can easily fly out if she wants. Overnight she changed her wings and crown. I assume this is just one of her magical abilities. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating a fairy door, I am keeping her for now. Her laughter sounds like silver bells.

a sweet discovery

a sweet discovery, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

I have found some interesting things while doing my spring cleaning... but this is by far the best discovery of all! Behind a teetering stack of clay pots in my shed was a wee baby fairy. I have heard that it is best to place them gently into a jar with some flowers until you can help them find their way home. She seems quite happy to play with her wand and nibble the blossoms in the jar. Tomorrow I willl search for a fairy door so I can return her to fairyland.

a few of my buttons

a few of my buttons, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

There is something so tender about old buttons. I like to think of fingers stitching them on garments,slipping them through buttonholes. They are nearly universal, so humble, often beautiful, efficient, delicious to look at and touch. Like so many others I love buttons. I treasure memories of sifting through my grandmother's button tin. I am glad I have some of her buttons to this day.
Buttons are sweet bits of the past that fit in the palm of your hand.

sweet dove

sweet dove, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

This beautiful dove and its mate graced our backyard for quite a while this afternoon. I took several photos through the window and finally just had to slip outside to get a good shot. One of my dogs followed me and her jingling tags scared the birds away, but I did get one good shot.
They were so gentle and pretty.

you never know...

Look what the wind blew up onto my porch during last night's storm... some sort of fairy I think. I brought her inside and fed her some flower petals drizzled with honey. She hasn't spoken yet, but seems content to curl up in my big chair and nap. I am sorting through some old books and keeping an eye on her...

not a bad way to pass a dreary Wednesday.

the best thing..

ta da!

ta da!, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Doesn't my garage look fine??? Sis and I spent the entire gorgeous weekend in the bowels of hell... er, I mean my garage. It is looking rather fabulous now, as you can see...
Oh, allright, that is The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, NOT my garage, but it is easy to mistake one for the other. And don't Sissy and I look spiffy? We always do major clean-ups in our aprons. Mustn't get a smudge!!!
Off to the shop today, though I'd prefer a massage by the beach...

vintage-y jewels for my shop

I have just added these lovely pendants to my shop. I ADORE them! They are so delicate and sparkly!!! Find them here... http://www.seadreamstudio.net/category_6/enchanting-jewelry-.htm
Now, I am off to tackle that evil garage!!!

Sparklette Emma

Sparklette Emma, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Oh, Lord! It is COLD here! What's with that??? We had a fierce storm last night and it hailed so much it looked like an inch of snow on the groud. At 3am it sounded like someone was dumping rocks on our house!
So, now it is cold,wet and grey. ugh...
Yesterday sis and I found some good bling. In fact, I have some new items for my shop... some gorgeous necklaces that I will list later today or tonight.
Despite this dreadful weather, I am going to work on my garage. It is the final step in my mega-crazy-buttwhooping spring clean-up! Sis is coming to help me (I tricked her.... promised her a rhinestone trinket!! LOL!). Hopefully we won't freeze to death.
Hope your Friday is filled with sunshine!!!

bling sisters

bling sisters, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

So, sis and I are taking a day off from our spring cleaning to go procure some more cheapo blingo! Oh, yesss!
I WILL be back in my studio very soon making art! I have a million ideas! Can't wait!!

Let the foolishness ensue!

April Fool's Day~ As if I don't feel foolish enough every day.
I was reading about some famous hoaxes perpetrated on April 1st and I love this one...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/1/newsid_2819000/2819261.stm
The BBC aired a segment on the news about the "spaghetti harvest"in Switzerland. Brilliant!

Mostly I hope to not feel any more foolish than usual today.

I am keeping my expectations low...