Its Rainin Sparks and Butterflies

I know you think I've been sitting around eating bonbon's ~ you'd be wrong...... it was Triple Ginger Snaps from Trader Jo's!...  my favorite!

In between those little gems I have been getting busy ~ I've got two shows coming up and two vacations and I'm finding it hard to find time to create and deal with the 113 degrees here.  As you know I love METAL ART!!! I love creating Butterflies with various recycled items, so I'm working on more garden art, which I'm hoping will be a big hit at the Phx. Botanical Gardens Annual Fall Plant Sale coming up.  I always have a booth there in Oct.  If you're in the Phx area come on down ~ I've got some goodies I'd like to show you.

Metal Art you fool ~ what did you think!

Everything I do is by hand - hand drawn, hand cut & hand welded.  It's time consuming, but I love it.  It starts with a big piece of steel, a few markers.

  Here's a little video of me cutting out some butterflies just to show you what it's like. 

Don't cha wish your girlfriend was HOT like me!!!

Don't CHA! 

I'll bet she doesn't have an outfit like mine either!!  YEE HAW

Here's what they look like after I've welded the wings onto old Railroad spikes.  Next step will be the rod they will stand on and the rusting and/or painting stage.  

 Here's one in the early stages of RUSTING.  It's got a ways to go.

I'm off on my Santa Fe Vacation this Friday - Have A Great WEEK!

ZenTangle, GooGLE DooDLE

Ok, if that Title didn't get your attention - I give up!

I'm on this kick of ROCKs you know ~ remember these.  So many fun things you can do with them ~ it costs nothing ~ they're free! In this economy isn't that wonderful.  Something I've always done is "Doodle", especially if I'm on the phone and there is a pen handy..... I doodle on anything, sometimes on things of course I shouldn't have doodled on, "sorry honey".  Sooooo, what better thing to doodle on then ROCKs.  Then, of course, when you GooGLE DooDLE (sounds like a new recipe) fun things pop up...... like ZENTANGLE go here!!!!! WHAT!! I must of been hiding under a Rock cuz I've never heard that word.   I was ZENTANGLing and I didn't even know it!  How Fun.

I'm gettin' my ZENTANGLE on, baby!!

And just for fun ~ let's add some quotes and words of wisdom just to finish them off.

What I've learned...... 

Zentangle ruins sharpies fast!!
Everything I know I learned in Kindergarden!!

I'm off to find more flat rocks - that's harder to do than you think!

Dumpster Diving Weekend

Friends and Family know I have a problem.  They know I can't stay out of Thrift Stores, they know I hate the Mall and everything in it!  I go to the thrift store at least once a week maybe twice.  I'm trying to cut back ~ it's hard.  It's gonna be ten times harder when I have to move.  I'll be cussing out every Ginormous thing I've hauled back to this house.  I've filled 2700 sq. ft with so many lovely things I guess I just can't help myself.  Recycling and Reusing it's what I've done forever.  Blame it on my Mom, she hauled me to thrift store my entire childhood.....everything wrong with us is our parents fault,.... right?

Yesterday ~ 50% off at Goodwill.... You know I had to go.  It was a glorious day of fabulous finds:

Check out this over-the-top beautiful Persian 9x12 rug..... $50!!!!

What was the person smoking that got rid of this.

This mexican silver/pewter tray must weigh 40lbs.  It's almost 4ft x 2ft.

My dining room table is 9ft long and it takes up over half of it. 

Picked this gem up for .........are you ready?........... $24.00!!!!

Somebody slap me I must be dreamin!!!  can you tell I get a little excited about bargain hunting.

Found these two (2) large hanging candelabra's.... I'll probably take the chicken's off (not my thing)

 Still had the prior price tag on of $59.00 each
I paid $2.50
 
 Picked these up a while back - Stunning Teak foot and headboard from Bali.......$80
Later saw in an imports store for $500 ea!!!!!

Another glorious rug 9x12..... paid $100 

per Karastain value is $2200!!! SCORE

Hope you all had a great a weekend.

Who Wants to go Dumpster Diving with Me!!!!

Unexpected Gifts!

I love this world of blogging friends, friends you've made literally without hearing their voice, but listening to there heart, seeing their heart in their words and the beautiful art that they create.

Last week I received a most unexpected box of lovelies from a wonderful artist, Soraya Nulliah, you can visit her here.  She has an open He(ART)full spirit, and a gifted hand. She speaks from her soul not just her lips.  She struggles like all of us to grow and to overcome our past and present challenges that we all carry.  I know she has carried those that perhaps could not carry themselves with her words and her open spirit to grow.

She sent me the most beautiful gifts ~ a lovely party dress for my little granddaughter Stella, a beautiful sequined journal book for my thoughts ~ a most spectacular painting from her little Tara~Poo and a piece of her art work that I will treasure always.

Sometimes we just have to stop and breath and appreciate all that is good in this world and that everyone out there struggles, needs, wants and searches for the meaning of their life 

~ isn't it nice to know we are not alone ~

Thank You My He(ART)full Friend

ZoZoBra - Old Man Gloom

Zozobra is a hideous but harmless 50 Foot bogeyman marionette. He is a toothless, empty-headed facade. He has no guts and doesn't have a leg to stand on. He is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. He never wins. He moans and groans, rolls his eyes and twists his head. His mouth gapes and chomps. His arms flail about in frustration. Every year we do him in. We string him up and burn him down in ablaze of fireworks. At last, he is gone, taking with him all our troubles for another whole year.

We are headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a little vacation at the end of the month to enjoy this annual Fiestas de Santa Fe celebration held every autuum right after Labor Day. It's been a long, long time since I have enjoyed this celebration and I'm really looking forward to it and to seeing family again.  

The burning of Zozobra dates from 1924. William Howard Shuster, Jr. came up with the idea of creating the effigy, also called Old Man Gloom, and ritual burning. His burning marks the start of three days of celebration that includes traditional mass at St. Francis Cathedral; a reenactment of the Entrada, when Don Diego de Vargas returned to the city; a Children's Pet Parade; and the Historical/Hysterical Parade.

I'll be taking a little break from blogging for a few weeks while I finish up some small projects I've been working on.  I know I've been bad about posting the last month.  Stay with me and I'll report back after our little get away and hopefully share some great video of the demise of ZoZobra and hopefully I'll be burning all my sorrows away along with him.... that's part of the ritual to list any problems you are having and then place them in the stomach of ZoZoBra and burn them all away to welcome in the New Year.

Viva La Fiesta