Plans and a weekend of prep

Well I've sketched what I'd like to do with our eat in kitchen area. Basically, create a window seat area with a narrow bookcase on each side. Our table would be placed in front of it.. so the kids would have a comfy spot to eat breakfast.

I have a lot of cleaning and prep to do this weekend in prep for next weekends Wedding reception/celebration for my step daughter who got married a few weeks ago. I'll post some picks of the festivities afterward.

Cancer Causing Chems in our Beauty Products

I was shocked watching a local stations investigation into the cosmetics industries use of harmful ingredients in our cosmetics and other personal care products. To make matters worse, they know these are harmful because in other countries they aren't aloud to use the ingredients. How rotten. Is our health worth so little? The reporter used a database created to help women check their products for safety. The website is: http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php There is also a petition to sign demanding that more guidelines be in place for our safety. I think I'll be signing that baby. I mean to raise your risk of cancer when applying sun screen... come on.
Now... what to do about the impending white roots on my scalp, since my hair color rated a 7! on the hazard scale which is high.
I just thought you ladies might want to know.

Birthday Painting & a Window Seat

The thought of me wilding a saw of any type has flipped my husband onto my side. He said he would help me create a window seat/book shelf in our dining area. At first it was a "No". Then an ok when I guess thoughts of me slinging about a saw traveled through his mind. I'm so excited. What a snuggly nook to read and have coffee.. and great for the kids and their friends to eat together on the back side of the table. Hopefully this will happen soon. I can already see it decorated for Christmas. Oh boy... Snow man pillows. And Santas... and a valance to match.... maybe painted on canvas. Thanks to kariandkijsa , I'm in the know on how to do that.

So, here's the birthday painting. I would say I spent a total of five hours on this. I didn't get to do as much as I wanted on it... But the days slip by so fast... and that darn traffic really eats at the time. Oh well. But I still think Grams will like it.

Slow Progress

Well it's slow progress for sure. Last night I got in an hour of painting... ok it was more like 45 minutes. But here is where I am with the painting.

Oh That Cake

So just a quick note about a 40th B-day party I went to this weekend. Oh Mamma that cake knocked my socks off. Layers of chocolate mouse between layers of chocolate cake and then sprinkled with raspberries. This lovely surprise party was held at Canoe in Atlanta. Very swank. And the husband to the birthday girl reserved the wine cellar room... even more posh. It was so fun. Totally not me, but so fun.

Check out the restaraunt: http://www.canoeatl.com/News.htm

Happy Birthday Candy!

A Doll and a Place to Create

So even though I have my home completely pulled apart... due to inspiration from the show Clean Sweep and the yearning for a kariandkijsa style to my home, I still had to take a break and do a quick painting. And in true creativemompodcast fashion, I found a favorite object and pulled out the watercolors.

So back to the inspired to look lovely... so must destroy first. It looks like a bombe went off in the living room. I guess it must get worse before you can get to the pretty stuff. I want to create a feel like the very talented sisters create. The catch of course is budget. There is not a penny available due to the Dave Ramsey boot camp we are in. Which nby the way we are DEBT FREE! Wahoo! But working on the fat cow emergency fund leaves nothing for the project. So I'm going to document the good the bad and the ugly of the transformation. First the good... well atleast with what I've got to work with. Here's where my newly painted table sits at the moment.

And, I removed the card table that was my creative space... just behind the living room sofa. It was replaced with an underutilized armoir. The catch... I can't nail in any shelfs for fear of deminishing the value. So I tied one on... or two... baskets that is.

Now the pictures in the living room have mostly been taken down. An I'm trying to decide what colors. I have my hubby half convinced to let me buy some paint. But... what colors? Oh my goodness. And what to do with the picture placement. Especialy on the big (now blank) wall behind the sofa. The painting leaning againt the wall next to the armoir is I hope going above the sofa... But it's so darng heavy I don't know that that's going to be realized.

The sofa faces the firplace to give an idea of what's going on here. And Not shown in this picture is a 1912 Victrola that our tv sits atop of on the left of the fireplace. I need the design fairies to dust me with some home decorating know how while I sleep tonight. And darn it... I didn't work on that painintg on the desk at all... and it's for a birthday this weekend. Eeeek!

Hugs and MoonPies,

ArtgirlATL

A Valentine Wish and Disney Dreams

Happy Valentine's My Sweet Friends!

My four year old made a flower for me last night at church. It had two Hershey kisses glued to the center. She then told me "I want to eat those tomorrow, you can have the flower!" Aren't they sweet!
Yippy Skippy!
We're knee deep in planning our Disney trip. It's next fall, but it's never too early to start making your reservations... especially if you have your heart set on breakfast with the princesses at Norway in Epcot. Which by the way is much cheaper than a Princess meal at Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom.

My favorite rides:
Magic Kingdom> Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Pirates Fave Food> The bakery on Main Street has these Cinnamon Loafs that make my toes curl... Heee... Heee!
Epcot> Mexico Pavilion boats, Space Ship Earth and strolling around the world showcase.
MGM Studios> Tower of Terror, Sitting on a giant ant.

For us cheap folks:
Trails End Buffet at the Fort Wilderness is a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom and is the cheapest Buffet in the parks. Suppose to be yummy too!
Mickey Mart at Down Town Disney is a souvenir shop where all the merchandise is $10 and under.
I love me some Disney Value Resorts.
Last time we stayed at The All Star Movies Resort on Property. Loved it. And it was supper Cheap.
Can't wait to try out Pop Century. And you can't beat not paying for parking in the parks, having tons of free buses to choose from, and Extra Magic Hours.

Hugs Ladies,
artgirlATL

a hug, a doll and a sad story

Here's a pic my 4 year old took of My oldest and I. We had a fun day full of Turkish food and lots of love on Sunday. I'm posting a picture of one of many old unfinished pieces to make up for it. We had fun eating and playing and visiting with causins.
Sadly latter that night my favorite Aunt's home was brocken into. Over the weekend she had mostly been away caring for my grandfather and visiting with other family members. While she was away thieves... broke her window with a brick and proceeded to trash her home and take what they like. Now the worst thing... about a year and a half ago the same thing happened. Broad daylight while she was at work they tokk everysingle thing of value from her home. Including my grandmothers(her mother) jewelry she inherited. They even took the time to take CD's out of the cases. And years before that they entered her home while she slept... even taking things from her bedroom where she lay sleeping. In my heart I want to spray paint on a sheet and hang it on her garage door " God knows who you are and he will eventually deal with you and your crimes. They sadest thing is that she's lived there since around 1985... and she now has only one choise to leave a home full of memories to find a safer neighborhood. What happened to the sweet gentle south we all loved. Even in the most quaint of historic areas... you dare not wonder a few streets over. Sorry to bring you down, but I had to spill. Please keep her in your prayers. I think I'll read I Coritheans tonight. It will help.



Nesting dolls

My great Aunt braught the largest doll in this picture back from Germany in 1964. She hoped a train and went over tothe part of Germany American Millitary were not allowed to visit. When Germany was split East and West. It has such a special place in my heart... remebering the times I played with it at her house as a child. That got me started collecting. An when she heard this she sent the one that started it all to me. What a precious gift.

Hugs Ladies,
artgirlATL

Into the Garden

My girls had a fun day last weekend of of exploring a local park... and how gravity can carry you down hill. A friend of mine from high school joined us at the park.

I'm busy as a bee doing a few working and doing a few birthday paintings. Pics to come.

Hugs ladies,

artgirlATL

In progress

I love my supplies. The vase the brushes are in was a gift from an old friend She purchased it from an art fair. Isn't it a beauty.
And a painting I started this weekend. It's so hard to go to sleep when there is a new canvas in the next room.
I hope you all had a great weekend. I'll share a few fun photos from our adventure with a family friend soon.