Butterfly Shoes

These shoes are dreamy!!!  My ankle wouldn't stand for the heels, but I'm determined to make a similar (more sensible for me) pair using Aleene's Instant Decoupage but first I must find the shoes and butterfly napkins or wrapping paper.  Stay tuned...BTW - check out the price for the shoes...

2012 Costco International Photo Contest

It's almost here again - the 2012 Costco International Photo Contest and I can't wait to find that perfect photo to enter.  All entries must be postmarked by September 30, 2012. 

Butterfly Party & Celebration of Our Lives

I gathered some very dear friends last weekend for what was called a Celebration of Our Lives...I kind of kidnapped them or said a little more nicely, took them on a Mystery Trip for the day.

We started with lunch at my house, went to Heidi Borchers' studio to make a lovely mosaic creation, then on to a full-on high tea, back to my place to kick back, paint our fingernails with magnetic nail polish and a little slumber party.

If you're looking for butterfly party ideas or just ideas for a girls' getaway weekend scroll on down for some ideas to make your girls feel extra special.

Thanks to my friends who joined in the fun (to those who couldn't make it, well, ya missed a great time), to the special friend who loaned me her fabulous home for the tea, to Heidi Borchers who made mosaics marvelous to Barbara Jo and Mick for giving us a proper high tea to Denise, you're always magnetic - thank you, thank you, thank you dear friends, one and all!

Joan

Butterfly Pasta!

Who knew?  Certainly not me...Denise brought me some Butterfly Pasta from World Market!!!  I told her I'd have to use the same tablecloth I had on my table for the party since it matched the pasta!  Love it, Denise!

Butterfly Party Activities

I took the ladies on a kind of mystery day of celebrating.  We went to Heidi Borchers' studio and had a great afternoon of mosaic making.

Even Aleene and Tiffany Windsor showed up to say 'hi!'

 Here's my heart before the grout.

 Working....working...working...

 Taaaadaaaa...

 After I got home, I just had to add some swirls with a permanent pen.  I hung my mosaic on a quilt I have hanging on the wall.















After we were done with our mosaic projects, we journeyed to a dear friends house for a proper English tea prepared by another dear friend and her significant other. My friend's WONDERFUL home overlooks the bay and everywhere you look it is adorned with her amazing watercolor creations.  We all loved checking out her 900 square foot studio.  We had tons of little sandwiches, sausage rolls, sweets and lovely teas. 

 More edible butterflies

After the tea, some of the ladies went back to my house for a slumber party.  Denise owns a beauty shop and brought along the latest in nail polish - it was magnetic and so cool.  She brushed it on and while it was still wet placed a special magnet over the paint that made a design.  She said she could actually see it move.

Butterfly Party Decorations

Even a plant needs a little party umph!

Decorations really set the tone for a party so butterflies were EVERYWHERE at my house and at the tea.

Start your decorating before your guest even make it in the front door!

I hung butterfly streamers from the lamps in my staircase.  And, wrapped butterfly ribbon around the banister.

I applied stickers to some heavy paper, cut them out, punched two holes at the center and ran wire through them.  I twisted the wire in loops for a 'flying' effect.

I put stickers on the hanging lanterns.  I didn't press them on real hard so I can take them off and use them for other theme parties.

I got this cute hanging decoration at Oriental Trading Company along with butterfly suckers, tattoos, fans, etc., etc.  Cheap too!

I even 'dressed-up' my boot with some butterfly ribbon.

The table...

You can wet the edible butterflies a little with water and they adhere to a glass...just lovely.

Butterfly Goodie Bags & Favors

Butterfly Necklaces

Everyone got to make a butterfly necklace to wear for the festivities and take home with them as a memento.  These were easy to make since I found the already assembled ribbon necklaces at Beverly's (only 99 cents) and we added a butterfly charm using a jump ring.

I found butterfly teacups at Amazon.com that came in a variety of colors.  Everyone selected a favorite color and took the teacups home as a gift.

You have to have goodie bags at a party and of course, they were butterfly themed.

Everything from butterfly fans, fly swatters, sunglasses, tattoos, butterfly garden seeds and bubbles!!!

Edible Butterfly Cake

What's a celebration without cake?  I bought the cake at my local grocery store and added edible butterflies that I got on-line.  Almost too pretty to eat!

Repurpose a Boot

 

On April 4th it was a year since I broke my ankle and this silly boot I had to wear for six weeks has been hanging around - I just couldn't throw it away.  Today was the day to do something with it.  I added potting soil and planted some succulents and other plants to make a conversation piece out on my deck.

I used some hook and loop tape from the boot to close up the toe end so it would hold a plant.

The boot before...

As I was planting this I had to open up the hook and loop 'tape' several times to tighten it up and oh did that bring back memories of trying to make this boot comfortable!!!  I even slept in it!

 Now, what to do with the crutches????  Let me know if you have ideas.

Silverware Mobile

Repurposed Silverware by Dan Shattuck 

 I recently attended Three Speckled Hens antique show in Paso Robles, California and I was very taken by the fabulous way Dan Shattuck, a local artist, repurposed silverware into wonderful, unique creations. I usually have trouble spending money on things I really don't have-to-have but I just couldn't resist this stunner! 


   





Here's where the artist will be in 2012

May 12                  Day in the Shade - Templeton Community Park
May 26-28             Morro Bay Art in the Park
June 15-17             Live Oak Music Festival
June 23                  Ojai Valley Lavender Festival
June 30 - July 2    Morro Bay Art in the Park
July 1                     Art in the Park Shell Beach
July 4                     Cayucos 4th of July
September 1-3       Morro Bay Art in the Park
September 2          Art in the Park Shell Beach
September 15-16   Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival
October 13-14       Three Speckled Hens - Paso Fairgrounds
November 17         Atascadero Lake Park Pavilion
November 23-24   CC Craft Show - SLO Vets Hall
December 1-2        Holiday in the Plaza - San Luis Obispo
December 2           Art in the Vineyard @ Tolosa

It's almost here!!!  MAYhem
 
That's what I called the month of May when I turned 50 and every weekend during that month I did something 'crazy'.  Well, this year I'm going to celebrate my friends and I'm getting the ball rolling with a handmade invitation to a weekend filled with fun activities. 

I started by gluing pieces of butterfly scrapbook paper on blank cards I got at Michaels then added some layered papers.  I wanted to get everyone excited about the event so I included a little butterfly charm that they'll bring to the weekend to craft with.

I scanned the image of the butterfly from the scrapbook paper and used it as a watermark on the inside.

I protected the charm with a light cardboard insert and I just couldn't leave it plain white so I added stickers and doodles - learned that from my friend, Pattie Donham Wilkinson years ago.

I added stickers to the outside of the envelopes too.  Can't wait for the RSVP's to come rolling in.

More details about the Slumber, Crafty, Celebration of our Lives Party soon - it's going to be so much fun!

The stickers before...

The stickers after...

3D Butterfly Wall Stickers

I read an article recently about a local celebrity, Lou Ferrigno (you might remember him as The Hulk).  A couple of things stuck in my brain about the article.  He suggested, "Get your head in the game" and that he was an Action Taker.  I don't know if it was reading that article, Spring or what, but it's been a get out of my way world kinda week.  My short term to do list that just seemed to be getting ever longer is now a lot shorter thanks to putting these couple of simple things to action.

One thing that has been 'hanging around' were these cool wall stickers my friend, Kathy, brought me just a week after I moved (they are from Ikea).  I FINALLY took them out of the package and being the 'outside of the box thinker' I put them on dimensionally.  I think they look great and add even more beautiful butterflies to my butterfly bathroom.  Thanks, Kathy, (even though it took me 19 months - ugh - I'm ashamed to admit it took that long!)

How about for just an hour you put Lou's thoughts in the fore-front of your mind - who knows what you'll accomplish!

Happy Getting It Done!
Joan

Misc Crafty Things

 This is cool in a couple of ways...it's made using a wine crate from a local winery and my nephew's name is Justin. 

So many pots, not so many plants...still interesting.













I got some shutter doors at a garage sale a couple of years ago and they're just sitting around waiting to be put to good use.  I saw this at a local shop.  I'll have to pull out the top louvers of mine.