Writing Home in the Honeysuckles

I have been lucky to meet a lovely artist and writer within the past few months. It is always so amazing to me how time flies on the web. What seems to be several months ago ends up being "months"..... I know you know what I'm talkin' about.

Cindy La Ferle found me through one of your blogs. Her blog is called Cindy La Ferle's Home Office. I love visiting, Cindy, at least once a week. Yes, she is an accomplished author but the other side of her is a fantastic artist who creates altered books and mixed media construction using found objects (her words not mine). Some of her works have been exhibited in juried art shows. And before you ask, she does not have an art blog. Personally, I think it is time that she does. *hint* *hint*

I have seen photos of her art work because we are friends on FaceBook and one of her "albums" is a collection of photographs of her creations. WOW is all I can say. All right, enough pressure on Cindy right now. I don't even think I will clue her in that I'm writing this. OH my bad. She should, seriously, start an art blog. No pressure here......

Cindy recently offered some review copies of her book, Writing Home, (a collection of personal essays and newspaper columns) to individuals who would write a review and then do a give away on their blog. I believe, maybe, at least two other of my dear blogger friends along with me managed to snatch a copy. Here is my review........

"I received a copy of La Ferle's book in the mail this week and have not been able to put it down. So there toooo, nanny nanny booboo."

Seriously, friends, I have been reading it, skipping essays and returning, thumbing thorough it when a title caught my eye. Reliving years of my life. Short essays. Moving messages. Inspirational insights. Now, here is the problem, I don't just read - I mark up books with pencils and highlighters. So, guess what - I will not be giving this copy away anytime soon. Hmmmm. OK, I ADMIT IT. YES, I did it - I went over to Amazon.com and bought a second copy for a give away at some point. I will also make a note of my other friends who will be doing a giveaway and so you will have several chances to enter.

However, until that time, Harley is going to be reviewing some quotes taken from the book next week so you can get a feel of this fantastic "read" - so fasten your seat belts - I hate to tell you, Harley is in control.


Just discovered a Give Away going on right now over at Retro Cafe Art Gallery. The book is, Teach Yourself Visually - Collaged & Altered Arts by Roni Johnson. While over there you might just want to check out Kristin Hubricks collage sheets. They will knock your socks off.... ok, I am still so like into my spring sox! *wink*

Prepared in the Honeysuckle Breeze?

Harley and I are having a difference of opinion. This is nothing new - to you it is since I have not discussed the little bugger much on this blog. He keeps demanding his own blog, but I am holding out.....

He wants to take a book along to Anaheim, "Hotel Hobbies" .... oh my, let's get real, Harley. Yes, it is a real book which he bought off Amazon. Try these chapters:

1. Arts & Crafts; 2. Edible Pleasures; 3. Rituals & Ceremonies; 4. Entertain Yourself; and 5. Bathroom Fun.

There are more chapters, believe it or not. Go over to Amazon and check it out....... What more can I say, while I was slaving at the office, he was reading this book. Once we got home after my workout with James, the trainer, I changed into my comfy happy clothes and tried on new socks I got for my birthday. They are spring-time-make-me-feel-so-good sockies....



However, Harley thinks we are having a fashion crisis.

Oh, Harley, you seem to forget who is the boss here and if you don't behave I might have to throw you in Oliver's toy basket.... hmmmmm, sounds like a horror movie to me.

Guess you know what kind of evening we are going to have, don't you. Before I close to get a little bit more stuff done, let me show you one of my fav pages in my travel journal. These were the first pages completed in Madison, WI, at Halloween several years ago. I was depressed, a little, that I was missing Halloween in the office, the hotel had 6 dedicated "sports" channels, no SyFy, no nothing, I called the front desk demanding a satellite dish to put outside my window. Everyone in Madison was amused by me..... do tell, I wasn't.....




You can probably determine my mood by the journaling I did.... LOL. I loved "Snakes on a Plane" - would have worked in the hotel room also .. Will try to check in tomorrow at some point. Take care and have a warm and fuzzy evening even if you are having a fashion crisis.... or Harley is having hysterics over a silly threat. Oh My! Just another regular day amongst the Honeysuckles....

Oopps, Disappearing among the Honeysuckles

I know - I did disappear on you and I have a good reason. I really do. I have been getting ready for a business trip next week and have been gathering papers, figuring out clothes to take, grabbing books, locating my little travel journal and on and on. Yes, I located the little journal I take on every trip. For some of those of you who are new to this blog here are some sample pages in the book .... let's start with New York City - I try to make a note of the place I stayed with an address, a list of fun places I visited....

New York City - second page - Note that the Ink Pad is a really great stamp store to visit in NYC - not only stamps, but wonderful items...... all waiting for you to take home... also got to take in Tinsel Trading Company featured in Where Women Create premier issue....

A page from my San Antonio trip - love that city ever since I was 10 years old.... love it!

This one - Madison Wisconsin - Fly the Friendly Sky....

While I am out of touch, you will be hearing from Harley - my little red dog companion. I will introduce you to him tomorrow or Saturday and, trust me, you will love the little guy just like I do. He is a world-wide traveler and dispenses advice no matter if you want it or not. Somethings I just stuff him into my purse and zip it shut so he will shut up....... He does protest and let's me know. I need to run and give Oliver a pedicure.... before i run away.... OH boy, Harley and the little white pup - what more can a girl ask for?

Musings in the Breeze

Not too many times do I post twice in one day and if I were smart I would save this one for tomorrow - since I won't be posting. . tomorrow is doubles tennis with the girls. Let's start off our musings with a tribute to Taco Bell . (Wanna guess where I had a late lunch today?) I remember visiting my first one back in the early '70s in Oklahoma City. Today I don't go to them as much as I use to - but I still love the crunchy taco supreme and love people watching at the Bell. This was my treat to me because I don't like changing clocks every six months. Yes, I am whining....

I even had to have a second day of tea and cookies and show off my rusty find in the trash! OK, this was musing # 2 and I am still whining. I love Grandma's china and rescued it when it was going somewhere else those many years ago.....

Next item of business was grocery shopping and then I headed upstairs for one last creation this weekend.... Marie once again haunts me. I needed to make a Marie ATC for a friend to send with the Marie stamps I prepared yesterday as a belated birthday gift.

I stared with a card I had experimented with about 5 months ago. It was dark - the background a vellum one laid down with Mod Podge and an image from the Where Women Create website.

It needed some sprucing up.... know what I mean? Sure you do. A little lace, a little bling, a little butterfly.... and she was ready to go public! I can't remember where the pink butterfly came from but it has been around many many years!

I have to tell you all the inspiration for the lacy veil was from Lovey's blog, Fabric Photo Memories, "Beauty Behind the Veil." Thank you Lovey - you helped save this ATC card. Here is "under the veil."

Happy Birthday, Terri - she and stamps will be in the mail tomorrow!

Arf Arf in the Honeysuckles

Hmmmm, and who showed up on my doorstep yesterday while mummy and daddy went shopping...... Hmmmmmm. Yes, it was Oliver, my little 4 legged nephew. Here is a trick question. With all those toys and treats, can someone tell me why he always seeks out Harold and tries to undress him? Does he hate that sweater? That is the only thing he goes after and Harold is not necessarily out in public - try my bedroom.... Oh Oliver, you shouldn't be a bully - that is a no-no.....

Well, after dinner, (I had salmon and roasted veggies. Oliver had fresh green beans with a little bit of shavings of ham - that was after his regular diet food.... just a nibble), Oliver and I watched live tennis on the Tennis Channel from Indian Wells, California. OH, look Oliver, Nadal aced one! wooooohooooo.....


OK, I could go on more about Oliver's visit but I'm rambling about one of my fav topics, Oliver.... so back to the blog. I did tell you yesterday that I was headed down to have tea and cookies and then work on my new calender.... Yes, I did have tea and cookies:

For my birthday, my friend and neighbor, Jenny, gave me this bone china - 3 cups, 3 saucers, and 3 dessert plates. It is so beautiful and I was with her when a kitchen store was going out of business years ago - and this was the last of this china in this pattern - can't remember if it was 75% off or not. She knew how much I loved it and gave it to me this year as a gift.

Besides, tea and cookies, I adid work on my blank "canvas" before dear Oliver showed up:

Finished product - sorry, photo a little dark:

I added an post card image I had from "Carte Postale Classic Cats" - Cavallini & Company... a few little jewels, a flower head dress, and some jade complete the look....


And last but not least, a key........... love my keys....




And then to finish the evening, while watching TV with Oliver, I cut out some unmounted stamps which I am sending off as a belated Birthday gift to a friend.

I love these stamps and use them a lot..... as you know.....

Well, need to get lunch, make a card for the birthday gift, clean work area and it is still wet outside on this wonderful Sunday. I really do love gray days! See you later...

An Award for the Honeysuckle Breeze Blog

Diane over at My Art Journal blog gave me an award!! Thank you, Diane, thank you! There are rules associated with this award. You have to:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.
3. Link the person who nominated you.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.
5. Nominate seven "Kreativ Bloggers"
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

Hmmm, this one is kind of hard since I have told you more than you ever wanted to know about me during my birthday week. I really didn't leave much out. So let's give it a try:

1. The first play I ever did was when I was six years old and played Little Red Riding Hood.
2. I took piano lessons when I was 6 years old and the 10 years old.
3. My college degree is in sociology with a minor in political science.
4. I worked for the Oklahoma Arts @ Humanities Council for eight years before moving to Northern Virginia.
5. I acted in plays in the area theatres during the late 80s and into the middle 90s. I then had to concentrate on going back forth between Virginia and Oklahoma three times a year to see my parents who were in a nursing home.
6. I love horror movies, ghost hunters, paranormal, and twilight zone TV shows and stories. Am especially liking the new BBC show, Survivors, love medical disasters!
7. I am obsessed about finding the perfect calendar. I must go through at least five every year. I rip out the calendar pages and use in notebooks I make, at least they don't go to waste! LOL

Here are the seven blogs I am nominating for this award. All seven are FABULOUS ones. I did not select others because I know they already have this award.....

1. Korie at We Will Always Have Paris
2. Debby at The Gathering Nest
3. Terri at Artful Affirmations
4. Lovey at Fabric Photo Memories
5. Linda at Lindart's Art
6. Nathalie at An Artist Legacy
7. Larcy at It's All About the Little White Dog

I want to again thank Diane for this award. It does make my heart sing and dance. I have been cleaning today and getting papers organized for my taxes. I have worked on one "gift wrapping" that has an assortment of tea in it and will be placed in the mail next week:

A few close-ups - once again I layered and stamped and used left over stuff from the previous creations this week.... my usual tactic and profile.....

Besides tea I added some tickets. I love these stamps:

Had bought these tickets at least three years ago and am slowly using them up.

Stamped on the back:

Am getting ready to go downstairs and locate some ATCs I received in the mail and have tea and cookies on this rainy windy day in the Northern Virginia area..... I might be back later on. My next project is working on a very BORING calendar I bought. See # 7 above about my obsession concerning calendars. I know this one will work and we are only in to March and this is calendar # 2 or is it # 3..... not sure. But I am gonna have fun with the leather binder....

M = Marie's Folly in the Breeze

Yes, one more down - 7 to go. Tonight I literally tore up a note pad to get at the Marie Antoinette image. She was shiny and glittery - my kind art! LOL

How could I pass her up? Took a playing card, covered it with sheet music, sewed on a lime green ribbon, added a "gold" crown. Attached Marie with Tacky Glue. Attached white lace. Added "Marie's folly" and then positioned the "cup cake" after adding some Stickles to glitter it up.

Last item to go on was the Heart - bought with a pink heart valentine cluster at Michaels. Yes, on sale after Valentine's day! Used the wire cutters and cut it off and used the tacky glue to place it over Marie's head.

Over all - quick and to the point. Once again, this Alphabet ATC project just kind of happens without much thought. I am loving it. When life gives you lemons -- do as Marie would do, just make lemon cake.....

On second thought, maybe not, seems her lemon cake came with a price...... her head. Hmmmm, let them eat cake? Why not. You go girl. Dance the night away .... Your fate will catch up with you soon enough.