Tagged and Tags!

I've been blogged tagged by Rebecca so here are 16 things about me:

1. I love dark chocolate.

2. I just discovered altered art last January and have been doing for a year now. It's opened up a whole new world for me.

3. When people use the word "your" for "you're", it drives me crazy.

4. I don't like tyrants, zealots, dishonest people, brussel sprouts, dry wine, loud noises or the smell of Opium perfume (gives me a kickin' migraine).

5. I like to do yoga and ride my bike outside.

6. My favorite magazines are: The Smithsonian, National Geographic, Somerset Studio, Better Homes and Gardens, Cooks Illustrated, The Antique Weekly Paper.

7. I like to garden and read. My favorite book ever is The Secret Life of Bees.

8. I really like to learn new things.

10. The warmest winter jacket I've ever owned and also my favorite it my Patagonia R-4 jacket.

11. I listen to a lot of NPR, especially on the weekends. Love the radio show "Car Talk", "The Prarie Home Companion", "Says You", and "The Splendid Table".

12. I sleep walk a lot at night, sometimes 5 or 6 times a night and sometimes 3-5 times a week.

13. I like all kinds of music but traditional jazz and blues are my favorites.

14. Beagle dogs are the best! I once owned a cucumber eating super beagle or should I say, he owned me!

15. I grew up on a farm in a small town (actually it was called a "village") where nobody locked their doors (they do now though) with wonderful parents and 2 older brothers. It was like growing up in Mayberry. My cousin lived on the farm next to us and we had a ball playing together!

16. I'm married to the best man in the world!

These are new Valentine tags which are on Ebay now. Created from copies of 1950s children's Valentines and vintage photos.

Kicking into Valentine Mode..........

Hello there friends in Blogland! It has been a very busy week here at the Honey Girl Studio. I'm in the Valentine mode creating with all things red, pink and sparkly.

Remember those over the top ruffly chooched up Valentines from days gone by? Well they are back! I posted these on Ebay tonight (low starting bid too).

This is a 5 inch square and 1.5 inch thick shadow box. The little guy in the inside is Cupid's cousin. He's known as the "Prince of Pink"! He stands out from the background by 1/2 inche wooden blocks so it looks like he's flying! I just posted him on Ebay tonight.



Isn't he a dandy in his pink sparkly shirt. His job is to make chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine's Day!



I went antiquing with my friends Rita and David and bought this cute little pink milk glass dish. I didn't even know there was such a thing as pink milk glass! It was one of the first things I saw and just had to have it! We had a great time.....lots of laughing and lots of trying to figure out what some of the antiques were and what they were used for! If you are ever in the Northeastern part of Ohio around the Akron area or even in North Western Pa., get on Interstate 76 and get off at Exit 44 which is the Rootstown exit. There you will find the huge I-76 Antique Mall. It is heated (very important when you are in Ohio in winter), well lit, clean (another plus since I'm kind of a germ freak!) and they have a vast array everything from glassware to furniture!




Rita and David and I are planning to hit a flea market or antique store once a week this summer around the area since we all are in education and have the summers off. I will keep you posted on the Antiquing Adventures! Ohhhhh, that sounds like it could turn into another blog!

Ok now onward to adventures in cookies. As I type I am baking the most deeeee-licious cookies! And best of all they are super easy to make. You need the following:
1 Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Deluxe Moist Cake Mix
1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 stick of melted butter
2 eggs
1 Tbs. vanilla
Throw everything into a bowl, hit it with the mixer! Plop by the tablespoon onto a greased or parchement lined cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Whew! Baby! They are so chocolately and super with a cold glass of moo juice!
I know Linda will want to try this recipe!

Have a good week pals! Hope to hear from you!
Smiles-
Tootie

Seed Catalog Inspired ATCs!

Yes, I'm still on the seed catalog kick! I received one the other day that I just love called "The Cooks Garden". The pictures are great the copy is engaging (well as engaging as a seed catalog can be). Considering that it was 6 degrees here today with a windchill of -12, it give the old psyche a boost looking at beautiful veggies, flowers and fruit. I continue to be inspired by these catalog pictures and text and used some of them in this new series of ATCs which are part of the ATC a day for a Year thing I've got going on. The veggies and flower are hand cut and painted with acrylics from colored cardstock. All are available for trade so if you see one you like, give me a shout.

The Smith and Hawken Seed Catalog.....

I've been getting a lot of seed and gardening catalogs because about a week ago I got on the internet and signed up for just about everyone I could find. I was feeling the January blahs and needed to at least look at pictures of vegetables, fruit and pretty flowers. Now if I could do this under a natural spectrum light that would be even better! (I'm in need of a little sun light!) I put the Smith and Hawken catalog to good use tonight. After looking through it, I began to dismantel it and I created Artist Trading Cards (available for trade). They are part of my "Year of ATCs" series. I added a few vintage photos and pictures from the catalog to come up with these.

Thinking Valentine's Day.....and Spring!

I'm thinking Valentine's Day and a little bit of spring! I like to think ahead, it helps me get through the cold, cold January and February days. I made these 2 paper dolls while in just such a frame of mind. I love Valentine's Day, with the reds and pinks. I think I like it so much because my husband and I got engaged on Valentine's Day. He put the diamond ring in a heart shaped ice cream cake! The dolls are available on Ebay.

This is Rose the Valentine Queen. She is 7 inches tall and wears a skirt of realistic rose petals.

This is Honey Bunny. She is about 8 inches tall from ears to feet. She also is wearing rose petal skirt, which is all the rage this spring and summer! LOL

A Year of Artist Trading Cards

Starting on January 1st I embarked on a personal project called "A Year of ATCs" in which I will make an artist trading card a day for a whole year. All of them are available for trade, my goal is to trade or just give them all away. I like to give things away, it makes me feel good. I'll post a week of them at a time on a blog entry once a week but if you'd like to see the new one posted for that day go to my Flickr photos.

3-D Altered Art Fairy Shadow Boxes

These sweet 6 X 8 inch (outside of the frame measurements) were so much fun to make. The fairy is raised up from the background collage about 1/2 an inch which gives it the illusion that it is floating or sitting on something. On the blue frame I used modeling paste to give it an Old World texture look, then painted it periwinkle blue, antiqued it with tea dye then dry brushed it with bronze paint to give it a little glimmer. I posted both shadow boxes are on Ebay tonight.

This the back of the shadowbox.......I like the back to look good too! :-)

Vintage Valentine Paperbag Album

Here is my newest creation just posted on Ebay. I really enjoy making these! I have a special idea for my next one and can't wait to get started on it!

Here it is stuffed with all the goodies you see in the next picture!