My Favorite Song

I have loved Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for a very, very long time.  Actually, it was my first husband that turned me on to them.  My second (and current) husband exposed me to even more of their music.  All of their songs are great, but it's their voices that make them so unique.  The harmony that these guys create is truly angelic.

My favorite song is Leeshore.  I don't usually like to listen to my music at high volumes, but I make an exception for this song.  If you close your eyes and let this song wash over you, it's like you can actually feel the ocean breeze all around you.

Do yourself a favor.  Watch this video.  It 's just David Crosby and Graham Nash doing a duet of the song.  It's recorded from some TV show in 1970.  The song was originally on their album 4 Way Street.  Buy the song on ITunes - you won't regret it.










Happy Sunday Evening.

Peace,
Cyndi

One Hour Crocheted Slippers

I haven't talked very much about my crocheting on this blog.  The truth is I crochet a lot.  My hands have to be doing something all the time.  So when I'm not "arting", I'm crocheting.  Some family members have hinted that maybe I crochet a little too much.  Several years ago, our local news anchor, actually mentioned during the 6:00 news that she had seen a woman, in the adjacent lane, crocheting while driving down the road.  Yes, it was me.  I'm not proud and I am the first person to complain about people texting while driving.  So, I have put an end to crocheting while driving - I only do it at red lights now.

This evening I settled in to do some reality TV watching and, I'm embarrassed to say, that I did not have a single pair of clean socks to put on (and I always like to wear socks while I am pacing the floor and yelling at Abby on Dance Moms).  I Googled "crochet slipper patterns" and found this one - One Hour Slippers.  They were right - I started in the middle of  I Dream of Ne Ne:The Wedding and finished in the middle of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition.

Now, I have definitely crocheted much, much cuter slippers than these - but not in one hour.  I may whip out another pair before I call it a night.

 

 

Peace,

Cyndi

 

Sunday Scribble

I'm not feeling very creative this evening.  I just bought some rubbing plates to use with my Gelli Plate, but I just couldn't get inspired today.

I did mess around a little bit with one of the plates.  I did a rubbing with my Prismacolor pencils, then did a little zendoodling.  Obviously, it's not much, but maybe I'll cut it up and use it in a collage or a card.  Or maybe, I'll spray some ink on it.

 

Maybe, I'll have better luck tomorrow.

 

Peace,

Cyndi

Cute, Cute, Cute - Dresser Makeover

Let me tell you, there are some really talented people out there.  Yesterday, I showed you the beautiful kitchen table by Diana at Dreams Factory.  Look at today's piece of brilliance created by Deanna from It's Just Me -

 

Is that gorgeous, or what!?!  I love the way she painted the sides of the drawers and mod-podged paper to the insides.  Check out the post to see what this piece looked liked before the makeover.  You won't believe it.  Actually, check out Deanna's blog.  She has tons of great things to envy - I mean look at.  I get so inspired when I see pieces like this. 

 

Peace,

Cyndi

Beautiful French Country Kitchen Table

I've really gotten into the French Country style recently.  I've never been one for any kind of country style, but I just love the whites and blues and greys.

I found a post today for a pretty table with French typography.  I, naturally, thought when I saw the words that it must be a transfer on wood (like the little painted box that I did a couple weeks ago).  But no...........it's GLASS!  What a fantastic idea.

Frenchify Your Dream Home:  Kitchen Table Makeover

The entire blog is great.  Diana has lots of  shabby chic DIY projects - check it out - Dreams Factory

Peace,
Cyndi

This Weeks Reality Zentangle

Well, it's Monday night reality TV time, so of course, I'm drawing.

Tonight I started out with a little black and white zentangling with my Faber Castell Pitt Pens.  Then I decided to add a face.  I outlined the face with the black pen. 

I needed some color.  I used my Koi Coloring Brush Pens for the pink and green.

I broke out the Prismacolor Colored Pencils to shade and color the face - Suzi Blu style.

Last, but not least, I used the colored pencils to add the blue into the hair and the peach color on the "pearls" at the bottom of the picture.

It was quick.  It was fun.  I think that I'll reduce it and put it on a card.

Peace,
Cyndi

Sunday Blogger Problems - I'm SO Happy and SO Bummed!

I am really happy and really bummed. 

First, I'm really thrilled because The Graphics Fairy put my Distressed Painted Box up on their site in their "Reader's Projects". http://thegraphicsfairy.com/painted-box-french-typography-reader-featured-project/

I have subscribed to The Graphics Fairy blog for a long time.  It's really a wonderful site.  Since they put up the post, I have received so many comments from such lovely people.  I have to say that it feels really great when people acknowledge something that you have created.  I really enjoy making things, and for someone else to see it, is like icing on the cake.

Secondly, I'm bummed because Blogger isn't working properly for me right now.  I am not able to reply to the comments that I have received on my blog.  It says "Reply" right under each comment, but when I click on it, nothing happens.  Evidently this is a common issue for Blogger.  I have visited several Help Forums, but none of the temporary remedies that are mentioned, work for me.  Lots of people say that Blogger is aware of this problem.  It's not an issue on everyone's blog, but, it's definitely hit me right now - and, it couldn't be a worse time.  I'd like to thank all of the nice people that took their time to comment.  Some of them have asked questions and now they are going to think that I am just rude.

I'm going to try to not get too freaked out about this.  If anyone has any ideas about this computer glitch, I would love to hear them.

Peace,
Cyndi

I Cried at the Honey Boo Boo Wedding

Alright, I've officially lost my mind.  For those of you who are not familiar with Honey Boo Boo, tonight was the June's wedding.  June is Alana's (Honey Boo Boo's) mother.  Sugar Bear is her father.  June's first three girls Anna, Pumpkin, and Chubbs (I'm not kidding) were from a previous marriage, but evidently June and Sugar Bear have been together nine years, so he has been like a father to these girls.  They didn't actually get married because June says that she will never marry again, but she did agree to a "commitment ceremony".

Now, weddings are a mainstay of reality TV.  You rarely ever get through a season of any reality show without a big, million dollar, wedding.  I, certainly, have never cried at any of these weddings.  But, when I saw Junes' daughters walking down the aisle in their pink and orange dresses, and Sugar Bear crying like a baby, I just lost it.  Actually, my eyes started watering when the dog came down the aisle first in his little pink jacket.

I've said this before and I really believe it - These rednecks are the most real people on TV.  They do not care about what anyone thinks.  People always say that they don't care what anyone else thinks, but the fact is, that most people do care (perhaps, too much).  So many people live their lives like they are in a movie -  creating drama where there isn't any - being envious of other people - living in a constant state of competition.  And...that's why I love Honey Boo Boo.


Did I mention that the wedding crystal was actually stemmed, mason jars????

Graphics Fairy Transfer

Months ago, I picked up a silverware box at Goodwill.  It was black with a black velvet interior.  It was only a dollar or two, so I figured that I couldn't go wrong - certainly, I could turn it into something.

I've been a subscriber to The Graphics Fairy blog for a long time.  I love looking at all the beautiful things that so many creative people have made.  It's also amazing how many nice graphics they have.  They have lots of florals and French topography.

Since, I'm really starting to love anything French, I decided to try a Paris Apartment Sign.  I printed it in reverse so that when I laid the copy on the box, the letters would face the correct direction.

As usual, I forgot to take a picture of the box before I started.  Here is a picture after I had applied two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey.  (the box is actually sitting upside down because I had just added a coat to the bottom)

 

 

Since, this was my first time trying a transfer on chalk paint, I wasn't sure if I should wax it first or not.  I decided to add a coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax.  Then, I did a little distressing with 220 sand paper.

 

Next, I printed out the design in reverse, as I mentioned before.  Using a regular brush, I applied Golden Matte Gel Medium on the area of the box where the design would be.  I brushed gel medium on the paper and, carefully, placed it down on the box.  I don't know why I didn't cut the excess paper away from the design before I attached it to the box.  It was crazy, but I continued on.  I used an old credit card to rub across the design to remove the bubbles and wrinkles.  I feel like I applied a little too much gel medium because so much was coming out on the sides.  I just wiped it away.  I left the access paper "un-glued" because I didn't want to have to rub all of the paper away.  

 

 

I let the box sit overnight to completely dry.  The next morning, I took a deep breath and spritzed the paper with water.  I didn't soak it, but I did get it wet enough to get the paper breaking up when I started rubbing the paper with my fingers.  This is the part that takes the longest.  I just kept rubbing off paper, spritzing more water, rubbing off paper, spritzing more water, etc. etc.

 

I got to a point where I wasn't really getting any more paper off.  There was still sort of a shadow around the design, but I kind of liked it.  I sanded the top of the box to make it look older.  I added another coat of clear wax and that was it.

This isn't the best picture, but I am pretty pleased for my first try.  This box still has the dividers in it for silverware.  It would be great for jewelry.

 

I still want to put a design on the coffee table that I chalk painted.  However, because of the size, I think I might transfer the design onto the table with carbon paper and then paint it.  I'll definitely use a Graphics Fairy design.  I'll just take it to the copy center and have it enlarged.

 

Peace,

Cyndi

Super Soul Sunday and Maya Angelou

When I was very little, around 4 or 5, we went to church for a little while.  My parents decided that they would be Lutheran.  I have no idea what was behind that decision.  It might have been the proximity of the Lutheran church to our house.  i also think that it was the least offensive religion - no loud gospel singing, no speaking in tongues -everyone just sat quietly.  We have continued to claim ourselves as Lutheran's ever since.  However, our "church-going" was very short lived.

About 10 years ago, my parents starting watching John Hagee on Sunday mornings.  They call that their "church".  I've never been one to be able to get into church preachers.  I think that if it heals you and leads you to honesty and truth, then go for it.  It's just not my cup of tea.

I couple months ago, I was flipping through the channels on Sunday morning and came upon Oprah's Super Soul Sunday.  Now, this is my cup of tea.  She has some of the most interesting and inspirational guests.  All of her guests are very spiritual - but in many different ways.  Today, I watched the repeat of Maya Angelou.  Wow!!!!  This woman is incredible.  She is so smart, honest, courageous.....I could go on and on.

She's 85 years old now.  According to Wikepedia:

She was raped at the age of 8, pregnant at the age of 16.  She's had stints as a prosititue and nightclub dancer.  She's worked with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.  She's written 7 autobiographies, 5 books of essays, numerous books of poetry, plays, movie's, TV shows.  She has received dozens of awards and over 30 honorary doctoral degrees.  In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, becoming the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.  Check out Wikipedia to read more about her.


Some of the things she said on the show this morning:

People will forget what you've said
people will forget what you've done
but people will never forget how you made them feel
-----------------------------
words are things
they can start a war
they can stop a war
they can build someone up
they can tear someone down
when you talk to god, it's your words that he hears
--------------------------------------
be someone else's blessing
there are many clouds and rainbows in life
be someone else's rainbow, whether
they have a different God, or
speak a different language, or
eat different food, or
wear different clothes.
---------------------------------------------
Oprah ask Maya about her definition of GOD

She said that her definition of God is  - ALL
There is no place that God is not, in the prison, in the choir loft, on your knees.
All roads lead to God
There are many gates to God - as many gates as there are people.

Then, Oprah asked her about her definition of Soul.
She said that Soul is the spirit that longs for ALL.  Spirit uses itself to create the blues, gospel music, hip hop music, poetry.  She said "Let me tell so much truth that it leads to ALL"

She said "Art is another form of Prayer"

I like that - Art is another form of Prayer

Happy Sunday,

Cyndi