Busy day for me!!!

 In just a couple of hours I will be on a plane heading to California to speak at "Launch Your Creativity". This will be an amazing event with talented women and some great speakers that I am really looking forward to hearing. (Cross your fingers and say a little prayer for me please. :)

Even thought I am leaving today, I could not resist grabbing my gal pal Sandie and heading over to this month's Sweet Salvage sale. I missed it last month, and I did not want to miss it again!

This month was fabulous as always!!!

They are even starting to bring in some wonderful large pieces like this chaise lounge.

Industrial was definitely a recurring theme this month! This cabinet was much more fabulous in person.

Like always, they had a very nice supply of vintage suitcases.

I almost brought home this turquoise bucket. I think it would be awesome in a laundry room to hold dry detergent or cleaning supplies.

This dining table and chairs was TDF!!! Ahhh... If only I had a second home!

They have lots of great finds outside too.

This beauty came home with me! I have never seen one this shape. I LOVE it!!!

They even have some lovely jewelry for those us who like a little rustic mixed in with our bling!

I really like this ottoman. 

Great finds are everywhere.

Who could resist picking through all these great little treasures???

Cindy.... this photo is for you my friend!!!

Here we are glowing with the pleasure of another fun morning shopping at Sweet Salvage!!!

In case you don't make it out there this weekend, I have a little secret to share with you.... Because the shop has been so successful, they are having to get a bigger building to hold everyone!! AND... this new building has air conditioning!!! Yeah!!! (If you live here, you know how important THAT is!!)

The building is just a block away and there is more parking in the new location too.

Make sure you visit the Sweet Salvage blog before next month to get the address for their new home.

Well, I'm off to the airport now! Have an awesome weekend my friends!

My Creations from Paper Cowgirls

Hello my friends and Happy Easter!!  I have finally grabbed some time to share with you the projects I made a couple weeks ago at the Paper Cowgirl event. I know I am very far behind,  but with clients and re -writing my book for the changes coming to Blogger soon, I have been crazy busy! Oh and speaking of crazy busy... I find that I have been re-miss in thanking you all for all your lovely comments recently.  I haven't had the time to visit everyone who always leaves me such sweet notes, and I just wanted you all to know how much I love reading them. I wish I had more hours in the day so I could come and respond to each and every one, but alas, I don't . But please know they are all appreciated. It's wonderful to know you are all out there enjoying what I do. :)

The first class I took was a class taught by Donna Goss.  I had never met her before and she was so sweet and a great teacher to boot. We all had great fun making her wool felt crown. I didn't waver from her design very much because I liked it so much, I wanted to do the same thing!

The next class I took was Lisa McIlvains "Whispers of the Past" book. Lisa's blog is Tarnished and Tattered, and if you haven't visited it, you are missing out. The girl has mad skills! 

The book was made from an old photo album cover and lot's of scraps of fabric and lace. I got a green book cover that, although was pretty, didn't fit in with the look I was going for. I rubbed white paint into it and then rubbed it off, then I used faded jeans distress ink by Tim Holtz to color the leather blue. It worked perfectly and now matched the strip of blue ticking that used on the front and back of the book. There was just not enough time to finish the whole book in class, so I did work on most of it at home. (I'm still working on it) but I learned some fabulous techniques in Lisa's class that I know I will use again and again.

The last project I have to show you was the "Peat Pot Nest Baby" that I made in Dawn's class from The Feathered Nest. We all had a great time putting this little sweetie together. Creating with friends is such a joy and I feel blessed to have been able to not only take Dawn's class, but also meet her as she was such a sweet and gracious lady.

I am truly so happy to have been able to meet all the wonderful gals who were teachers ans students alike. I can't wait for next year!!

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On another note, I am very happy to say that after a year of waiting I finally have been able to acquire mydesertcottage.com. Yeah!

It was owned by a retirement home in California, and the owner graciously agreed to trade domains with me.  Unfortunately, it appears that after doing so, my entire blog list disappeared from existence!  So please bear with me while I slowly build it up again.

My brain just doesn't have enough space in it to remember everyone who was in there!!!

May you all have a wonderful Easter Sunday filled with laughter and all the blessings that this day brings.

You Tube Linky Party at Lilly's Lace

Today I am linking up over at Lilly's Lace for a YouTube link party. Cindy is one of my dearest friends, and we told me about her idea I thought it was fabulous.  I had a hard time choosing what kind of video I wanted to share with you. Funny? Informative?? How about both???? Cindy was the one who introduced me to all kinds of funny animal videos. But my favorite by far is this talking dog video. I'm sure many of you have seen it, because it has become a HUGE viral video, but it makes me laugh every time!! I hope you enjoy it.

The next video is really cool, This guy makes beautiful ribbon roses and it looks so easy!!! Think how beautiful your next gift could be with a couple of these on the top!



 I am really looking forward to seeing the variety of videos. If you have a favorite, why not link up with us???  If not, I  hope you will still go over and see the rest of the video's that are linked up at Cindy's blog,  Lilly's Lace.  

My Class at Paper Cowgirls

Well I made it back from the Paper Cowgirl Event in Texas safe and sound, but thoroughly exhausted!! I had such a great time and could not have asked for a more wonderful group of gals to have in my first class (and hopefully not my last) at Paper Cowgirls. 

Here is Betti and Linda working away...

and Cindy and Charlene too...

Here is almost the whole gang. Every one said they had a great time and seemed really happy with their finished books.

My BFF Texas gals, Cindy and Charlene. I was so bummed I didn't get a pic of the 3 of us together. :(

Yes, I think you could say a good time was had by all!!!  

I am trying to catch up on work after being away for a week, but I promise to show more pics of the other classes I took, along with finished projects and lots of great shopping very soon!

Yummy Prizes and Altered Books

 Several weeks ago I entered a giveaway at Karen B's blog, Todolwyn. The prize was yummy, but to be honest, I didn't expect to win, because... well,  I rarely win anything! But I got a wonderful surprise a week or so ago when she announced that I was indeed the winner! Yea me!!!! I love what she gave away because it was sweet supplies that I can use to create fun projects.

I love already inked tags because I can never seem to get them to look the way I like, and the pins are super cute!

 I have become a bit of a trim and lace junky since playing with altered books and these are just perfect little trims! And of course, the presentation is so lovely I will probably leave them on the tags and display them until I need to use them. :)

The book pages are fab because they are in German. I don't have any in German and the font used is ornate and lovely. But my second favorite thing are these wonderful rusty hinges. I will use them in another altered book very soon. Thank you so much Karen! ... And speaking of altered books.... 

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Remember last month when I showed you this photo and said I was working on a new project???

 Well this is the finished (well almost finished) result!!! I had sooo much fun making this altered book, I want to make more!!

 (Unfortunately I couldn't really take horizontal shots of these, but if you want to see any of them bigger, just click on the photo.)

The theme for this book is Words to Live by. The inspiration started in two ways...

The first inspiration was seeing the photo of Lisa's FABULOUS book that she will be teaching at paper cowgirls. I had seen altered books before and I had always planned on doing one, but when I saw Lisa's I knew I couldn't wait. I had to get started making my own!!

The second inspiration was Pinterest. I have a board called "Words to Live By" where I am collecting inspiring and motivational quotes to try and always remember and keep in my heart.

I thought it might be nice if incorporated some of my favorites in this art book.

 This page still need the poetry or quotation added to the tags.

 Sometimes I have a hard time using my vintage supplies in art pieces because I worry that I won't be able to replace them, but I bit the bullet and used them with abandon in this book.

This is the last finished page. I have one more to go and it will be completely finished. I am so excited to be finally taking one of Lisa's classes. I just know the techniques I will learn from her will help me finish the last page. And of course I'll be coming home with a brand new book to add to my collection!

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So tomorrow I am off on a plane to Texas to teach a class, take some classes, meet some old friends, make some new ones and generally have a fabulous time! I have wanted to do this for a couple of years now, and time has finally come! Yea!!!!

I will try to take lots of pics and blog along as I go, but you know how things are... we ( I ) get so caught up in what we're (I'm) doing... sometimes I just forget!!

So until I see ya'll again (that's Texas speak for all of you) have a wonderful week, count your blessings everyday, and smile because you are all very special!