And Away We Go!

Happy New Year's Eve and I hope you have a safe and abundant 2009.

Hello Everyone!

Time to start getting really serious about goals and objectives for '09 -- the earliest and the main one for the upcoming year being ArtFest.

And now I'll leave you with a few photos, a piece of coiled copper jewelry I tried some time back. I do like making things like this... the rosettes and spirals, the colours. That's another goal for '09 that I have committed to if only a bit here and there at a time. Easy does it.











A page in progress from my ongoing Art Journal...

I drew the woman (a redhead, natch!), and cut her out, used the usual suspects of crayola crayons and Caran d'Arches coloured pencils, then layered in her skirt and put her on a multipapered background. T likes the boots, of course.

A fabulous bookmark from Femminismo over at One Day At A Time down at the right there. How did Jeanne know my favourite colours? She got me through some ups and downs this past year and probably didn't even realize it... gotta love that arched eyebrow! It says, "Happy Reading". You too, Pal.









RJ sent me a fun "matchbook" from Somewhere Over The Rainbow. She remembered I collect matchbooks (nonsmoker that I am) from travels... so here is a matchbook in the form and style of a calculator! This sure put a smile on my face.





Also, have any of you seen Wreck This Journal? Kitten gave me a copy recently. In Wreck This..., you are instructed to cut, burn, scribble, scratch, stain, etc., the pages of the book, plus write backwards, glue things like stamps in -- nice little exercises that help you get your head around another take on the Shiva Principle. From destruction, comes renovation. (Extreme Makeover should be his show.)

Wreck This Journal is by Keri Smith. I think you would enjoy the humour and hijinks she puts forth. Visit http://www.kerismith.com/ for more info.

Announcing the newest member of the family! This sweet little fella seen here at my brother's holiday dinner is Earl (as in "My Name Is"). Earl is a Weimeraner -- and I asked my nephew John, Earl's human, if he knew there are other breeds. We had a good laugh over that one. They've had at least two others that I can recall. Earl is definitely well behaved and comes beautifully dressed. What's not to love?



Take care! Back tomorrow!
Candace

Cardmaking 2009

Off to SC on Saturday for the family's holiday dinner. Everyone is so scattered now but we are all able this year to be together. For this, I am exceedingly grateful.

Hello everyone!

While T is making curried chicken salad for me to take tomorrow, I will give you a quick looksee at a mag I received. Santa is real... hoohoo.

As you know, I have always done my little line drawings and while my art has indeed expanded, I've always illustrated letters and cards. T thought it was high time I get really serious and so, voila! From the lofty shelves of Barnes & Noble, this lovely lovely mag from the UK I've had my eye on.

What's so nice is it has a calendar/diary for each week, a list of addresses and personal info in the back for recipients, tons of templates (including irises... lol!), and is just a nice venture out of the 2-D world.

Between this and Anne's amazing videos and clear instructions here, I hope to get really cracking in 2009. I am calling it, what else? eyecandy.

Take care!

Back in a couple of days to wish all a happy new year.

Candace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

-- whatever that means to our animal friends. Bess misses T very much today. It's become quite obvious that I play second fiddle in the string section here! She keeps circling the tree like T is hiding back in the branches or something... and she keeps circling the kitchen (of course, I did heat up the roast chicken which she will go to the mat for, if I make the mistake of eye contact).

It's been very quiet in the Hollow this day and especially this evening as the First Day of Christmas winds down. I'm here alone today with the Girls and the Boys (catnapping upstairs with occasional breaks for bids at World Domination). Plenty to keep Me busy and occupied as you'll see before I sign off!

What a great supper on Christmas Eve. Homemade veggie soup and cornbread so delicious that not even a flash camera could capture its image, that's how fast it went down.

All this was courtesy of T, who made enough for me to have a big bowl this afternoon while watching "Hellboy II: The Golden Army."

Now that's a holiday movie, believe me.

A couple of peeks at a card and a paper doll ornament, respectively, that I've started and then back to my knitting...

okay, okay, I'm really reading a fun book Kitten brought over last week. Knowing of my years past and present as a proofreader/editor/writer and linguist, she was right to think I would enjoy "Woe is I". I highly recommend it to anyone in or even out of those fields. I am enjoying it even more than "Eats, Shoots and Leaves".

Have a happy evening straight on till morning! (It's 65 degrees here today. Wha...???) Hard rain all last night, then the sun comes out today, practically balmy!

Get More of 2008. It's over soon! And then the real fun of a brand new year starts up again.

Your Pal, Candace

No Place Like Home (Redux)

-- for the holidays, as Perry Como sings it so well this time of year. And really, there isn't whether it be here in Athens, or in Rome with T's family or with my folks in SC ... some of whom are seen just below.


Hello everyone!


Is this Gleesome Threesome a sight for tired eyes or what? My sister's grandchildren, they are -- from left to right -- Isaac, the Redheaded Charmer; Isabella, the Baby and the Queen Bee; and Ian, the Oldest and Sweetest.

Like the Hokey Pokey, that's what it's all about -- right here in these fresh, new faces.

They definitely have made the Nice List this year as they seem to, every year. Must be in the genes.

Here's a quick peek at a paper flower Kitten helped walk Me through. Whew! I love working on and with paper but sometimes I feel more than inept with a capital I yi yi yi yi!

BTW, some of us could use a little sunshine and a few flowers right about now from what The Weather Channel reports. So, this one's for you in the Snow and Ice Corridor for now.





All my cards and goodies are out of here now and wow, was it ever an uphill event this year. Dunno why... Just one odd little thing after another. You'd think the elves and goblins were out and about making mischief for me! I ended up making simple visual treats as the fates seemed to have it in for me this time around.


My computer came to a (near) complete standstill today, thanks to spyware and malware. Geez. I really owe Don one for coming over and fixing everything up for me at the drop of a hat (or phonecall). This baby isn't just for fun in Blogovia; it's also my work station. So I was truly grateful for his expertise as well as his patience.


Just two days and it's Christmas...! Holy Mackerel, didn't we just do this? Solstice Sunday was grand, complete with a trip to Atlanta for a big, big par-tay! (57 degrees at the beginning of the event, and then two hours later, 21!!! What the...?) The Big Day is just around the proverbial corner, followed by Boxing Day and Kwanzaa the day after. And, are you popping open a grand slam bottle of bubbly this year for Auld Lang Syne? While it may seem like we don't have anything to truly celebrate, we do. We really do have much much much to be thankful for and about, believe you me.

Get More of What You Love,
Candace

Greetings!

Seasons Greetings, Everyone!

T put up the tree Friday evening with a bit of help from Very Truly Yours and we were so thrilled we accomplished even that much, we just left it alone with the lights, sat down to some coffee and an HGTV Christmas Town Special.

I kept waiting for those Wild Bill cats and dogs to do their worst, but amazingly this didn't happen.

We all are barreling down to the Big Kahuna Itself (Solstice Sunday and Christmas Thursday with a healthy dose of Kwanzaa/Boxing Day afterwards). Sometime between all this and the Brand New 2009 Model, some will indeed be receiving little offerings of love and beauty -- well, as I see it, anyway. No photos of those here, kids. I, like you, enjoy surprises (and you know who you are!).

Of course, very little surprises Me these oddball days. I didn't realize that "red sky at night, sailor's delight" meant we were going to go into doldrums here weatherwise! Bone-biting cold at the house last week and now early summer temps in Athens. They tell us it will be in the 20s tomorrow and then, in a matter of hours, will heat up to the high 50s. Say WHAT??? And now temps tonight and onward back to the bonebiting...

So it's not just Me having a touch of Discombobulation, it would seem. Jeanne has snow here as do so many others... I figure if LAS VEGAS is having snow (yeah, what's up with that?), anything is possible including more than a lump of coal in my stocking.



Will check back later, for now I'm off to look for the ever elusive Mr. Kringle.

Get More of What You Love,
Your Correspondent in Athens --
Candace

If Winter Comes

Hello Everyone!
Things are back to a more even keel at 235 now that the heat is back on in my house. While I was working on my paper iris here on Saturday evening -- nice, eh? but I cut it a little close for comfort, sigh -- Kitten and I realized, "hey, it's a little chilly."

Sure enough, the heat was on the fritz. T called Sunday asap, but the ubiquitous "they" couldn't get to us until today, Monday, at 2:30. What the -- ??? Not so much fun getting up and working, etc., in a house that felt like a meat locker. I work from home in a finished basement, meaning, concrete walls and cement flooring, and man, it was grey, drizzly and COLD...!

But nothing like what so many others are going through, so really very little complaining here. My peeps in the Northerly portions of this old world are on my mind, due to terrible weather Stateside as well as abroad. Well, it is winter in these parts, so what are we going to do? Suck it up...

grrrr!!! So, this paper iris in December will have to do until a real one shows up in spring of '09.

Even The Unsinkable Molly Brown asked for a little extra ... no fat on this gal whatsoever, so you know she was uncomfortable. Here we see her during Vespers. Honestly, doesn't she look like she's praying? smirk... that's one of my sweatshirts on her.

So, I'll check back in on Friday. Work is creeping along this time of year, especially now with the recession and folks, near and far, just needing a real breather in general, due to so many things.

UGA is emptying out for the holidays and T and I are getting ready for the slide down into Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and ... anything else out there to celebrate! This is the first year in some while that we've had a tree and we are fighting fit for the task ahead...

So be of good cheer -- "if winter comes, can spring be far behind?" Candace

Hands Across The Water and a Pop Quiz

First of all, Hello Everyone!

Velvet Ginger had a great post on her blog today here and I have taken up the gauntlet she has thrown down! More on that later.

For those of you who have asked me offline about this Hands Across The Water deal -- well, it's simple, really. I came up with this idea and a little bit of a drawing around the time I was meeting Sarah Wallis -- and have started this "Hands Across The Water" art project. She's definitely on the other side of the Pond while I am landlocked in Athens, Georgia. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

Yet, we are "sisters" in art and in spirit with quite a bit in common, overall. Thanks to Suzi Blu and our mutual Art Shenanigans, blogs and all, it is my good fortune to have made her actual acquaintance as you know, and now, through Sarah, Black-Eyed Suzie and -- as an added treat today! -- another great little site here called Bun Mountain Cottage. Go check out today's post. Incredible, gorgeous, faerie tale photographs in Stockholm -- only they're real.

And come to think of it, I have more than one Hands Across the Water pal. Halloooo... you know who you are!

So, on to the Pop Quiz (thanks, RJ!). Put on your thinking caps and your blue suede shoes for this one.

Cut and paste and throw down the Christmas Gauntlet on your own site with your own answers if you can – or, if you dare! (I know this isn't everyone's cuppa tea, but you might be surprised how some of these questions take you aback.)

1. 'Tis the Season to be? Jolly!

2. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both.
3. Real tree or Artificial? Two nice artificials on the mantel with a handmade ceramic star with an initial on each.
4. When do you put up the tree? When I have one, it’s after December 1st.
5. When do you take the tree down? I don’t know this year. It’s the first time I’ve had a tree in some time, trust me.

6. Do you like eggnog? Yes I do, straight and “doctored”.
7. Favorite gift received as a child? My lifesized bride doll from my gran -- and then from my sister. I'll explain later. (Oh and my first Barbie was one of the OLD Barbies -- the slutty-looking one with the yellow ponytail, garish blue eye shadow and black sequined strapless gown? I loved her…!)

8. Hardest person to buy for? Mmm... almost everyone I know.
9. Easiest person to buy for? T.

10. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

12. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Never had a bad one.
13. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol (Patrick Stewart). The Bishop’s Wife. The Santa Clause. A Charlie Brown Christmas. You’ve Got Mail. (!) The Polar Express.
14. When do you start shopping for Christmas? What do you mean, start?
15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not really.
16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Party food.
17. Lights on the tree? Yes if it’s a real tree.
18. Favorite Christmas song? "Christmas Time Is Here."
19. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both; it depends.

20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes, I can!
21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Handmade ceramic star, one on each tree.

22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Day (my house) and whenever I go to my brother’s (Dec 27, this year).

23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Work!

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? Nature! Reds and golds; or blue, silvers and whites.
25. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Too many to name. Okay, ham sandwiches (truly only once a year), dressing, coconut cake with a coffee chaser.
26. What do you want for Christmas this year? Time at Home.

27. Who is most likely to respond to this? Wow, I have no idea, really!

Have a great weekend, everyone. The Polar Express really is on its way... soon.

Candace