Honeysuckle Breeze is cloudy and cold

Whew - suppose to have sleety weather headed in later tonight. It has been a cloudy Saturday but it is Saturday. Oliver's mom and I ran out and had lunch and then hit Angela's Happy Stamper where we ran into Donna. Love her and her blog. She does great reviews of the Amazing Race, Survivor, Top Chef, etc. etc! I also picked up a special order of 7gypsies new products and used one in the March calendar layout.





Yes, tomorrow is March 1 and I have Miss Elspeth Lipsleigh who did in her man at Towage Regis in 1892. The only information we have about the case is that she "eventually succeeded in causing the death of Arthur Glumm at Towage Regis, 1892." Oh Mr. Gorey where are you when we need to pick your brain? OK, I know you are dead but I can dream can't I? What would lead such a prime and proper lady to do in her suitor?

Hmmmmm, did she ever find a suitor good enough for her or did she just keep doing them in for the sport? For this piece, I used one of my new digi sheet prints and it is downloadable from PaperWhimsy. I printed the page off onto vellum and love the look. And yes I know I just changed the original Edward Gorey image. Yes, I know but WOW is it not fun!

Since I was totally changing the image - I figured why not change the story. There was never any mention on poison that I could find about her other "attempts" but I had stamped the an image onto mica a while back and even tho blurry I felt it added some dimension to the work.




On the top of the vellum, I added Miss Lipsleigh after coloring the image with Tombo markers. (You will note that I also proped her up with chip board behind image to give it more of a 3D effect.) After "coloring" the image I took a damp cloth and smeared it a little and then went back over. I added some gold "lace" around her waist with looks like an apron. You know a girl has to sometimes clean up after herself. Here is my puzzlement. How did she do him in. In the original drawing she was outside with a stool and these black balls and am no sure what they are except obviously heavy enough to be tossed off the upper landing and probably hit him and killed him. As stated above, I also imagined that she might have used a little benzoic acid to poison him and if that didn't work than tossed the bowling ball type weapon at him.

One interesting item I found at Angela's was a new product from 7gypsies (no kidding, Sherlock) called crystal ring dangles. I clipped it onto an old key and applied to art work. I was pleased with my find!

Guess it really doesn't matter and I do believe there are Goreyites out there who know all of these stories but are in hiding. I did discover they are selling these calendar images as notecards at Gorey web site. Found them when I googled Miss Elspeth .... but no more to the story. Rest in piece my neglected murderess! I hope your 15 minutes of FAME were worth it and I sure it was. Speaking of 15 minutes - I need to run. Oliver and his mum are coming over for chilic which has been simmering in the crock pot all day! Oh boy, Oliver time!

Phoenix Reborn or is that Redux?

Absolutely amazing what a visit to the trailer park will do for you. Who knew it could rebirth your enthusiasm for normalcy! You go Chef Ramsey, kick some butt. Yup, Hell's Kitchen was pretty good. See post below for more of an explanation on this stream of unconsciousness!

I forgot to tell you of an incredible site I found today and order some digital collage sheets. paperwhimsey is eye candy. Just beautiful and refreshing and I know many of you already know about this site. Love the collage sheets and ordered and downloaded four today. I am planning on using some of the images on the arch murderess accordion booklet. You can see the some of the items from her shoppe and see why I am so pleased with these sheets.

OK - I'm back and getting ready to do a few things while the stupid ghost buster boys are showing on the Travel Channel. They are really quite psycho! Trust me, they are. And of course, I am not!

Honeysuckle's Phoenix

Honeysuckle Breeze a land of calmness, serenity, and beauty. The sea washes the soul. The moon lights the way. The breeze sings a lullaby. The Phoenix watches over you.

At some point She lost her tail feathers plucked for a creation, most likely - but one needed just the perfect feather for just the perfect creation for just the perfect friend. I'm sure. Is she not a beauty hanging over me, looking after me, making sure my muse is allowed in. . . she has been here for several years.

Started working on the March Edward Gorey neglected murderess, Miss Elspeth Lipsleigh. This one should be interesting since I can't seem to find out anything about her except what is on the calendar. I know my phoenix will swoop down and assist in the quest for the perfect creation for March. That will be worked on tomorrow.

I found an interesting bit of information on a blog I skim over every once in awhile about the Goddess Hecate' She is Goddess of Witchcraft, Magic, Crossroads, Wilderness, and Childbirth. WOW what a resume. She is also known as "Trivia" - the Goddess of Crossroads. This little bit of information is for all my friends out there who are into trivia or not.

I need to work on some creations tonight. I am kind of sad because my Claudine Hellmuth received bad news about her puppy, Toby, who has mouth cancer and she was so excited yesterday to take him for his final cancer treatment only to find out that the cancer had returned. It reminded me of the loss of Cricket - the bestest cat soul mate in the world and although it has been over four years since he passed from a cancerous tumor, my eyes tear when I read of others going through the same kind of pain I walked through.

Cricket crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge in April 2005 (son of a gun - I really didn't realize the aniversary was so close) - could be why it is a little sensitive at the moment. He is definitely singing with the angels and crowing with the roosters. Still miss you sweetie. xoxoxo.



OK, enough of that I need to catch a falling star and probably go watch my DVR and Hell's Kitchen. That will get me out of my funk. Can't believe Carla blew it on Top Chef Wednesday night. I think I have mentioned this before - but I was asked today the difference between Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef.... simple - think Penthouse (Top Chef) versus trailer park (Hell's Kitchen)! A little trailer park and then ghost busters is the recipe for a pick-me-up! Have a good evening. Be back with you tomorrow.

Lutradur - The End

Yes, I finished my Lutradur book and I have to admit I love the little booky creation and would encourage all of you to experiment with the material. I also want to say how exciting it was to hear from the author in the "comment section" of the post below. Trust me you will love the book reviewed at the Honeysuckle Breeze Library! Trust me.....

Here are more of the finished pages in my book. I added this stamped image of one of my favorite stamps from Stampington & Company. I love these gals and have used them in cards before. After this page was done I added the "hug" ticket just to give it some interest.

On the opposite side of the Hug ticket I stamped the phrase "embrace imperfection" from the Tim Holtz collection called the "Mini Muse CMS 063" - these are new Tim Holtz stamps that have just come out and you can find them at Stampers Anonymous. I also bought the "Urban Tapestry" mostly for the quote. The next page is fascinating to me. You take the Lutradur and use your heat gun. Amazing! I just used my heat gun again tonight to get more of the "feathery" look. Love it. I wanted the "see through" effect so you could see the image on the next page.

Speaking of the next page ,and in keeping with the "family" theme, I added an image I had worked on in a Beverly Seymour class several years ago. The stamp is from her collection. I like her stamps and her workshops. The image is stamped on acetate and then affixed to an old dictionary page. The dictionary page was tinted with the stamp pads applied at random.

The last page involves a quote in which we used Claudine Hellmuth Studio multi-medium matte to transfer the onto the page. I sewed on the "wedding" or "graduation" photo from some clip art I had. I do so like sewing on this material and find it the easiest way to attach items.

The last page is kept simple - hard for me to do. I decided to use another stamp from the Tim Holtz Collection Mini Muse collection. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the image and the look, while not dark, reminds me more of a "shadow." I like it. I signed my initials on the back and dated it. This was fun.

OH OH - Guess what, March 1 is Sunday and so it is time for a calendar update. For March, boys and girls, we will be altering the image of the neglected murderess called Miss Elspeth Lipsleigh. I don't think those are bowling balls at her feet. Not sure what they are. OK I am off to research Edward Gorey's neglected lady!

ALSO, the crazy crazy birthday bag is still going off. I'm going to figure out why it starts playing Happy Birthday when I walk near it - sometimes - I really don't think it is Mama from Heaven STILL wishing me Happy Happy. It's probably father trying to drive me nuts - he had a penchant for that - I thought you were suppose to stay busy in heaven and not bother us down here. Hey, Ghost Hunters is on tonight. Oh boy!

Honeysuckle Breeze Library

Welcome to my library my dear little boys and girls. Here is what I am "reading" - the term "reading" may be not be relevant so please be patient. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to read (unless traveling), therefor I listen to CDs. I love it and got started on it after my mother passed away and I inherited all of the cassette tapes of books I had bought for her. At first it was a little difficult driving and concentrating on the book when a driver would cut me off and I would fling unflattering words at the jerk but as time went on it became easier.

The book I just finished and wanted to recommend to all of you is "The Book of Names" by Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori. OMG. Listen to me, "OH MY GOD." This book is one of those thrillers that catches you on the first page and won't let go. The fictional story centers around the concept that there are thirty-six righteous souls within each generation and their lives hold the key to the fate of the world. In this book someone is going around killing them and the world is faced with tragedy after tragedy and becoming more unstable as each death happens.

Run - don't walk - to get yourself a copy of the book or CD or however you digest your books. (This story reminded me of the excitement I had for the DaVinci Code.) I loved the reading by Christopher Graybill and had no trouble distinguishing characters. After the book has concluded on the CDs you have a chance to listen to an interview with Jill and Karen. Surprisingly, I learn that the fictional "36 righteous souls" is based on fact. Thank you Jill and Karen for this one outstanding, incredible, "wanted to stay in the car to listen to it book" - not much more to say, huh?!

You can purchase the book or CD at your local book store or on Amazon.com. I am providing you with the links to Amazon.

Please consider this as a postscript: After I loan this CD out to the one who gave it to me for my birthday - I might just have a GIVEAWAY. And .. not to worry, if no one signs up for the free audio book - no problem, I will keep it in my library.

Off to play tennis. See ya soon.

Lutradur the sequel X 2

Time to take a break and post to the blog before going off to finish the laundry, take a bubble bath, and practice my Wii Tennis. I have had an enjoyable day working on my Lutradur book and am almost done with it. I will show you the fruits of my labor. While working on it today I realized I needed to wrap my mind around the fact that it IS material and should be treated as such. Once I got that in my mind the time it took to create something grew shorter. I had to think of both the front and back of the "page" because tacky glue, markers, stickles will bleed through to the other side. That is OK when you plan to create that way and decide which side of the page you want to work on first.

Today I took the book a part and sewed it together instead of using the ribbon through the holes I burned into it yesterday. I like that better since my holes were like really really uneven. *shutter* I added some vintage ribbon to the cover to "cover up" the HOLE.

Next page I worked on was the "transfer" page using the most wonderful transfer paper that Lesley Riley is going to be distributing soon. It was so easy to iron onto the page and came off so clean. She used her Epson printer to print onto the transfer paper. Must put this on my "to buy" list soon. For more information on the "Transfer Artist Paper" go to her website TAP.

I added the word "bliss" and made the letters into what hopefully looks like balloons. Originally I drew "strings" using Marvy markers but they kept bleeding into the Lutradur and faded away. I then added the stickles which worked.

On the backside of that page I wanted to stick with the color scheme. If you look closely you can see the transfer of balloons peeking through. I had a wonderful thank you card from a friend and cut out the flowers. I then added a chipboard panel covered with left over butterfly paper and glued a pair of scissors on top. In class this was the page we experimented on using embossing powder. The bottom dark blue and sunny corner are the portions that are embossed.

Following bliss was a page we stamped using Claudine Hellmuth paints. Next time I will use "chunky" stamps because my rubber stamps do not show up too well. I added the vintage clip and a cut out phrase from an old notepad, "she never guessed that cooking for one could be such a delight." I used this phrase for one reason only - it was purple.


On the last page of the day I realized that I could not Tacky Glue anything to the page since I had finished the previous page with the "purple" statement on cooking and Tacky would bleed through. SO, I experimented with my crocodile and found an old tag I created last year and just put it in with eyelets. Almost done. May or may not work on it later tonight but for now I am pleased.


Tonight is steak night! I am just so happy this past week is over and I'm not going to have to fast for any old tests for awhile! BLISS! Last thing I want to do before cleaning in this studio is put the ribbon around my Claudine Hellmuth canvas I made yesterday. I want to hang it in a place to remind of the techniques available for me to use. I do get into such a rut sometimes. I will once again say this: Claudine's Studio acrylic paints are RICH:

Lutradur - the Sequel

Just finished working on three pages in the Lutradur book! I like them. On the front cover I added the word "Love." Then attached two "Prima Artful Collage" flowers. The colors are more vibrant than this photo, sorry, but it gives you the general idea. Will get a better photo when the book is complete.

On the inside cover page I found a clip art photo and sewed on it, attached to page. Added the word "Family" and attached two "Prima Artful Collage" flowers.



On the page I call the flowers I added buttons and leaf ribbon. I had to do this because of what I am working on the opposite side. Lesley told us that this is like material - which it is - and it bleeds through. So when I added a ribbon to the opposite side the tacky glue came through which I think is OK since it will probably dry matte. But I like the look of the buttons and it blends in with my color scheme. My bits of Lutradur really rolled up into an almost ball when I got the heat gun too near. It's called make the best of your artful oops.

Getting time for beddy bye. I did manage to watch Top Chef after dinner tonight. YOU GO CARLA. I like so hope she wins and takes it! She does cook with love. Fingers crossed for Wednesday's finale.

Honeysuckle Breeze in Workshop Heaven!

Playing in paint and getting dirty makes one happy and wise. Yes, it is kindergarten all over again and anything you make is great with the teachers'. WOW, broken nails and ruined finger nail polish. What a wonderful day!



OK, enough with the suspense? I was lucky enough to be able to take two workshops at Angela's Happy Stamper. The morning was spent with the lovely Claudine Hellmuth (yes, I freely admit that I am a groupie of hers and follow her blog and twitter religiously). The afternoon was spent with Lesley Riley (this was the first time I met this wonderful artist).

Both artists were at Angela's all day long so it was a great time to get to know them. It was so much fun seeing other gals I have taken workshops with and renewing the acquaintances. Kidding back and forth is always fun just like in school.

Claudine's class was called "Mixed Medium Madness." We worked on an 8x8 stretched canvas and mounted nine 2x2 chipboard squares after learning the easy techniques Claudine taught us. Some we knew, some we had not worked at, and some were brand new. Her line of paint is beautiful and rich. Her gel medium easy to work with.

Finally, I was successful in gluing with her gel medium and was able to do a copier image transfer. I liked the gesso resist with silly writing.

I still have ribbon to put around the art work and I really enjoyed making this piece. Claudine is an incredible artist and teacher.

Now to the mysterious Lutradur! Yes, batman, you probably don't know what it is. . . I sure didn't!

In Lesley's class we worked with Lutradur. Nope, I had never heard of it and wasn't quite sure what it was. You will probably find it on the bottom of the your box springs. It is an industrial strength thermoplastic. It is a cross between fabric and paper. We did image transfers, melted it with a heat gun, and stamped on it. My book is not completed yet but I plan to work on it tonight after supper.

It was a great day here in the Honeysuckles and i am all smiley and happy. Thank you Claudine, Angela, and Lesley -- each a Goddess in her own right!

Hello Boys & Girls

Welcome to Honeysuckle Breeze Story Time Hour. This is Hexe the Incorrigible taking over the keyboard and the blog. The story involves a possessed bag. It all began when a certain fair maiden (no comments it is my story-see of young maiden below) celebrated her birthday on February 12th. All the creatures and citizens of her kingdom cooked her a wonderful breakfast and brought gifts to her.

One such gift was in a birthday bag that looked innocent enough on first sighting. Nothing unusual. Just a bag that had a birthday cake and candles. Cute. Nothing more. The kind and fair maiden who also happened to be patient, brilliant, and fun to be around, picked up the bag at the end of the day to leave the outer kingdom of Restonland and climbed into her magical Zbuggy to head to her home in Shining Silver Sterling.

Upon departing the outer kingdom a tune started playing. A tune so familiar to all known as "Happy Birthday" in that tingy tangy musical tone that you want to strangle. All looked around puzzled. No, it was not coming from her phone. No, it was not coming from any one's phone. Had she set her ring tone to Happy Birthday in case someone had forgotten it? NO.

Looking down at the bag - she noticed the candles lighting up and flashing. Holy Cow Batman, it is the bag that went off on its own. A possessed possession. Did an unknown spirit press the "button" that said "press here." She had not. So anyway, she got in the Zbuggy and flew home very puzzled. No, contrary to popular belief which is unfounded, she is usually not puzzled.

A number of days later the bag sitting on the floor in her sitting room would go off on its own for no apparent reason. She thought she had hit it with some creative tool which dropped from her tiny hands. But, no, she had not. She moved the bag and once again last night.................. (no around the bag....)



An hour later, it went off on its own with no warning. Is it possessed? Is their a spirit dwelling with in? Does it need an exorcism? The solution may be to pass it on to the next person having a birthday or call Ghost Hunters. Hmmmm, yes it was on Sci Fi channel last night. The boys are so cute. OK back to the story.

The solution may be to pass it on. Yes there is one she can give it to. Watch out oh innocent victim as she passes the bag on to you with all of its spirits. Goodnight boys and girls. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bug bites or the bogey man get you. If you have a birthday coming up, be wary. A birthday like on St. Patrick's Day? Hmmmmmmmmm.........Please note young birthday maiden on the right. . .

Honeysuckle Breeze is alive and well

I'm back. I'm OK. After not eating from Sunday at 8:00 pm until Tuesday at 5:00 pm, I feel great today. I hate fasting for tests. I hate fasting for tests. I have fasted three times since January and I hate fasting. OK, that is out of my system.

Just an update on the project I started on Sunday with the "women" - I debated, and debated, and debated, and probably while waiting for the procedure yesterday looking at the hospital ceiling it hit me. This is going to be an "arch" murder book. No sweet stuff folks. Just murder. It all started with my calendar this year, you know the one, neglected murderesses.....


Well here are the "pieces" for the opposite page from the old woman. We are getting there but I need more time to put this together. Translated, "I have to clean my space up to put stuff out again." I lost something for this page and will find it once I start gluing stuff down..... I also have to get the sewing machine out and make a place for that... oh hum, life is good.



Will visit with you later - supper is cookin' - YEA food.

Honeysuckle Sunday almost gone

Where did the day go. It is already dusky outside and dinner is cooking. I went to the store this morning to buy the fixin's for a roast, came home with everything except the roast. Hmmmm, where was my mind. So, I did what Martha would do. . . I think I read it in her magazine. Pulled out some chicken breasts, thawed them real quick and improvised in the crock pot. Got a small potato boiling in water with rosemary and garlic bread in the oven.

Yes, boys and girls, this is the last supper for a few days. The old cleaning the system out once again (this will be the third time and I am not amused) begins in the morning with the procedure done on Tuesday afternoon instead of morning (even more like not amused) - just because they think it is touchy because I'm on blood thinners? Come on guys, live a little.


I almost forgot I wanted to show you my roses a friend gave me for my birthday last week. I brought them home after tennis, put them in water, and when I woke up in the morning they looked wilted and bowed over. OH NO. So I really gave them a cutting and put in a small pitcher I had and they came back.

Today, I started to create something. Not sure what it will be but got inspired by the Cupid cardboard box in the Somerset in Love publication. Went on line an found a template for an arch. Cut out the card board and covered with book pages.



Never done anything like this and I have no idea where this is going to lead. Not yet done with the first layout. Those who know me know how I keep going back and building. I think this will be called "the little castle" - a place where Beethoven played. We will see. Anyway, here is a peek. Not totally pleased with this "Mama" page -- not yet but will walk away and look at it tomorrow. Tomorrow is a holiday and I will be at home..... and no tennis tomorrow, I will be doing my "running" at home thank you....


Will keep this short since I need to run down and check on dinner. Have a good evening. Will visit with you tomorrow in the midst of jello and clear liquids!