Hubby's Birthday

What a great day...My husbands 40th birthday...we spent the entire day together at home with Melissa...then got ready and went out to celebrate with a fantastic steak dinner at Texas Land and Cattle Steak House. It was soo good and we had fun.

Melissa and I had gone to Walmart earlier and gotten him a cookies and cream ice cream cake and once we finally had room in our tummies, we had a slice...

I had gotten him a Darth Vader bobble head as one of his Christmas presents because he so totally loves Star Wars and is playing the new game, and they had 2 more different kinds at the book store so I picked those up for him for his bday...he loved them so much. He said it was an awesome birthday, and that just makes me beam.

I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband who works so hard and provides so awesomely for us. I love making him smile...

Happy Happy 40th bday babe...I love you so so much
x0x0x
M

Revel in the Moment

Got my first page done in my journal for the Kelly Kilmer class I am taking...Crazy Excited...
Just had to extend our apartment lease for 3 more months because we just can't afford to move at the end of January...That isn't the only reason...honestly we are more concerned about the weather here in NW Arkansas and what that could entail, and we live in an upstairs apartment.

April 28th is now our move out date and it is going to be perfect...

Moving into a2 bedroom apartment from a 2 story house, and 1100 miles, was a big adjustment for all of us but we have done good...it's just so different living in an apartment...you have to really be so tolerant of other people's actions. I try so hard to always be aware of how I close cupboards, doors, everything, but everyone around us is just so disrespectful, and on top of that my hubby is a day sleeper due to a night shift, so it has been interesting to say the least...

BUT...instead of dwelling on the negative side of having to be here longer, I have decided to revel in the moment of knowing that our apartment life will soon be coming to an end...today I completely organized my pantry and my spice/canned foods cupboard...every day I am going to be going through something to get organized and ready to move....so I am CRAZY EXCITED!!!! and that's what my journal page is about...

I do have to say, I gave the girl a different mouth and yes it's bigger, but she needed to look excited and she just didn't look excited enough before...hubby said it freaks him out LOL...I LOVE IT...and its MY JOURNAL...lol...he laughs at me...

Thanks for taking a look.
x0x0x
MadZie

Me @ 47

I decided to do a journal page for me...I can't get away from my new stencil I really love it so much and she does remind me of me...I wear my hair up like that all the time and since I got it highlighted, thanks to my AMAZING husband, I feel so much better about myself...even when I sit around in my sweats with nowhere to go, my hair is done and my make up is on and I smile a lot more...

This page came so naturally to me and only one other time have I written on one of my journal pages. I have sooo much to write about but it's not all positive and even though people tell me to write it down, it takes me back to ugly places and I just haven't gotten comfortable with it yet...BUT, this page just flowed...once I started writing it just poured out of me and before I knew it I was at the bottom of the page.

I love how it turned out....and I may make this a yearly thing as a different way to document ME...

Thanks for stopping by
x0x0x
MadZie

Finished

Ok my journal Girl is finished...had so much fun with this and love the end result.
The design on the left side of the page is done with molding paste so its dimensional and super cool. That's the first time I have used molding paste and definitely wont be the last.

I used the Julie Fae Fen Balzer stencil for the outline of the girl then completely personalized it my style...I used watercolor crayons for the background, acrylics, inks, pens, rub ons, glitter and the modeling paste, which I colored with acrylic paint before I applied it. So much fun. I love mixed media.

Now we have to name her.....

 

Thanks for taking a look

x0x0x

Madzie

"Revel in the Moment"

Hi...

So I am taking an online class by the awesome Kelly Kilmer and today I created my journal cover. I used a paper bag for the base...cut it up to the size I wanted then I just sewed the 2 pieces together with my sewing machine...I left the handles on because I totally loved how they look and its really functional...

I used some fabric strips from left over fabric from the other journals I have made...I mod podged them on and it worked great...I used scrapbooking paper for the inside pages and the border is from an old calendar that I have saved. I was sewing around the edge with a zig zag stitch (my fave) to keep the edges down and I didn't stop fast enough when I got to the handles and I broke my sewing machine needle...rawr...Ill go grab some more tomorrow at Walmart.

Can't wait to start working on the journal prompts from Kelly's class and get my journal going...This is the first "prompt" driven journal class I have taken and I'm excited.

Have a great evening
x0x0x
Madzie

Stencil LoVe

So when I went to meet my friend Lisa this past weekend, she had some gifts for me as I mentioned. Today I decided to use one of the larger stencils (by Julie Fae Fen Balzer) she got me. I used the stencil as an outline and made it my own with details and such...it is still in progress...I am sooo excited at how it is turning out. It looks amazing in person. I am making it with my daughter in mind. She picked the hair colors and she is going to "advise" me on the background as well...it's fun getting her involved...here are the results so far...

Can't wait to do some more work on the girl and the background...Ill post the finished page.
Thanks for taking a look.
x0x0x
Madzie

For my Dad

I painted this page in my journal and I was thinking about my dad when I did it...I love the quote and when I found it I knew it was perfect for this page...

The ones that love us never really leave us. You can always find them....In Here...

I miss you so much dad but I feel you in my heart.

x0x0x
Madzie

Another Journal finished

This is one of my favorite journals so far. I created it with travel in mind...the cover fabric is pieced together and I also added some denim to the spine and the end flap of the cover...I used the waistband from an old pair of jeans my daughter gave me and it's the perfect closure.

The inside pages are so colorful. There are maps, vintage ledger paper, clear pockets and paper pockets...so many places to tuck all kinds of travel mementos into. I think it is a great place to write down dream destinations and also take with you when you travel...

It will be up for sale soon here... http://www.etsy.com/shop/Escapetohandmade this is my friend Lisa's shop and she is listing them for sale in her shop as a favor to me. Awesome friend.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look
x0x0x
Madzie

Hand Made Art Journal

Here is a picture of the remains of the day journal I made as a gift for my friend Lisa...I love how this one came out. Can't wait to get another one started...

Thanks for taking a look.
x0x0x
Madzie

Great Day

My daughter and I went to Fort Smith today to meet my friend Lisa...we had so much fun. It was so great to meet her. She brought wonderful gifts for me. Stencils and stamps and just so much awesomeness...I made her a remains of the day journal and brought her some home made goodies...
Her husband was there as well and just a real nice man. The doggies were so absolutely cute...It was just a really great visit and I am so so glad we finally got to meet.

Good time...great people...

x0x0x
Madzie

Friday

I have been busy baking and making and wrapping and decorating. All of my shopping is done and I am excited about Christmas.
I baked some mexican wedding cookies, 2 batches of fudge, some roll-0 pretzel yummy thingies, peanut butter rice crispy bars and about 75 chocolate covered peanut butter balls.

I also finished my sons Christmas present and have been working on a series of mixed media pieces that I am going to mount on canvas and put up for sale.

I am excited for Monday. My friend Lisa, whom I have never met in person, is going to be coming through Arkansas with her husband on their way to South Carolina for Christmas and I am going to meet up with them a little south of here. She is the owner of www.scrappindealsandsteals.com and a fellow artist. I have some baked goodies for her and I am making her something hand made as well. She has been so generous to me and a good friend and I am just really excited to finally meet her.

Here in Arkansas, during the holidays, they have the trail of lights, which is actually state wide. They have a huge light display in Fayetteville so tomorrow night Jonathan and I are going to go see it. The pictures online look so spectacular and beautiful so we are of course bringing the Canon and the tri-pod to get some great pictures...I will post them as soon as we get them uploaded.

Have a fantastic weekend.
x0x0x
Madzie

Words of Wisdom from Johnny Cash...

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
-Johnny Cash

I find this to be a lot easier said than done, especially when there are people who still base a relationship with me, or the lack there of, on things from my past. People who just think they are above forgiveness and letting things go.

So I try a little harder tomorrow, to not dwell, to let it go and not let it have any more of my energy or space. Life is so short and precious, and it's sad that people don't realize that.

I have so much to be happy and thankful about. These are the people and things I will concentrate on. The rest is just not worth the pain and confusion it causes me.

x0x0x
Madzie

Sunday

Well today I am getting our Christmas tree put up, then I am going to try to work on some hand made Christmas presents.
We spent the week of Christmas last year moving from Virginia to Arkansas so we really didn't have Christmas. No tree, no lights, no decorations. We exchanged minimal gifts. It was just such a crazy time, plus I had to start my new job 4 days after we got here.

I really want things to be spectacular this year. It was really hard for my daughter when we moved then to not have Christmas. Even though she was 16, it still sucked. So yep...I am bringing it this year. My daughter and my husband both have to work on Christmas eve so I am going to do some things they don't know about while they are at work and they will come home to surprises...I'm excited.

They have both been so supportive since I lost my job and even though things are tight I just really want to make this a special Christmas for all of us.

Back to the decorating, then some sewing and sketching and painting and who knows what else will happen lol.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend.
x0xox
Madzie

I feel these song lyric's

And when I hear this song on the radio I hold back tears....It touches my soul...

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly

I wish today it will rain all day
Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me
Praying but I think I’m still an angel away
Angel away, yeah strange in a way
Maybe that is why I chase strangers away
They got their guns out aiming at me
But I become near when they aiming at me

Me, me, me against them
Me against enemies, me against friends
Somehow they both seem to become one
A sea full of sharks and they all see blood
They start coming and I start rising
Must be surprising, I’m just summising
Win, thrive, soar, higher, higher, higher
More fire

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly

Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating every time it locks me in
Paint their own pictures than they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins

Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can every be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation

I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
So we become alive in a time of fear
And I aint got no time to spare
Cry my eyes out for days upon days
Such a heavy burden placed upon me
But when you go hard your nay’s become yay’s

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly



x0x0x
Madzie

Thankful

Thanksgiving week...I love Thanksgiving. I love to cook all day and see the joy and happiness it brings to the people I love. I will miss my son unbelievably this year but I know he will be surrounded by people who love him so I am thankful for that.

Despite my unemployment situation, I have so many things to be thankful for. I have the love of a wonderful man, two awesome kids who I love and who love me more than anything, a home, friends, some family, my health. I had some responses to job applications today also and was able to make another contact for job possiblities so I am so hopeful and thankful for that as well. I really could go on and on about how blessed I am.

I started a journal page with my watercolor crayons yesterday and I finished it up tonight. It says...Thankful for the beauty in her life. And I am because my life is beautiful and I am very blessed.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by love and happiness, and of course yummy food too.

Thanks for stopping by.

x0x0x

Madzie

Doodle me crazy

I have been sick with a head cold and either in bed or on the couch. I have been soo bored so I reached for my journal and my bucket of pens and just started doodling. It killed some time at least lol. I'm heading to the sewing machine now to work on my sons Xmas present. Gotta get that done...

 

Thanks for stopping by.

x0x0x

Madzie

Collage Page in my Journal

I hadn't done a collage page for awhile so I worked on this one last night. I'm pretty sure I'm finished with it. I usually put a border around my pages so if anything I will add a border. I am so lucky to be loved so much by my husband and that's what inspired this page. The queen of his heart.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

x0x0x

Madzie

 

2012 Journal Calendar

I am definitely doing this!!!! I have a full size spiral bound 2011 desk calendar just waiting for me to cover with paint and inks and stamps and awesome paper squares with little scribblings of my days.

I so love this idea.

http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.com/

She is also published in the Nov/Dec issue of Somerset Studio so definitely run out and grab a copy.

Awesome stuff..

x0x0x
Madzie

Veteran's Day

We are all so lucky to have the men and women of our military protecting our freedom all over the world.
I am so thankful for all past, present, and future veteran's and their families for the sacrifices they have made so we can sleep peacefully at night.

Today here in Bentonville, the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art opened and I am so excited. There is over 400 million dollars of art in this museum and there will be showings as well.

Thanks to Walmart, admission to the museum will always be free. How fantastic is that!!!! Jonathan and I are going to try to go during the week next week. There is even a section where kids can look at what was used to create the art, they can feel the brushes and paint tubes and another area where they can actually create art. So great!!!!! http://crystalbridges.org/

On another note, I have a job interview Monday morning and I am hoping hoping that I will be offered the job. I will literally be starting over but I am excited at the opportunity.

Have a fabulous weekend
x0x0x
Madzie

Ok lets try this again lol

I just did a completely new post and blogger told me there was a conflict...so here we go again.

I have been practicing my whimsy girls again today. Once again I started on lined paper and ended up with my watercolor crayons in hand. Hubby said go tomorrow and get the right kind of paper, so I am going to hit Hobby Lobby and get what I need.

The first sketch I just lined with a permanent fine liner. Rocker girl. I will definitely re do her on the right paper and make her come to life with some color.

The second sketch is just a head but I love how she came out (except for the bleh linked paper).

I'm excited to see how different it will be to paint on the right surface.
Have a wonderful night and thanks for stopping by.
x0x0x
Madzie

Sunday, Continued =0)

I kept working on my whimsey girl. My only regret is that I didn't do it on water color paper but I am still experimenting so I am ok with it. My daughter loves her and I asked her what we should name her and she said "Faith"...
So...Meet Faith...

I am going to mod podge her onto another piece of paper (probably scrapbooking paper) and frame it and give it to my beautiful daughter.

Thanks for taking a look
x0x0x
Madzie

Sunday Sunday

We had some excitement here last night in North West Arkansas...there was a 5.2 earthquake in Oklahoma and WOW did we feel it here.
Being in a second story apartment in an area where buildings are not built for earthquakes, it was a little nerve wracking. I think that's the fastest I've seen my husband get up off the couch in a long time LOL.

We are both from California and have been through the most recent large earthquakes there but it is very unexpected in these parts. I just sat on the couch wondering if the big screen TV was going to fall over. He told me if it happens again I better get up off the couch and get downstairs. At the time I wasn't thinking that these buildings are not made for this kind of thing...

ANYWAYS!!! I watched some more of Tam's awesome video on World of Whimsey this morning and of course had my pencil and pad in hand...this is what I came up with...

I can't wait to be at the point where I am comfortable doing some canvas work. I think she needs a puppy so I am going to try to work that into this sketch.

Thanks for taking a look
x0x0x
Madzie

A bit of Whimsy

I found out that not only did I win a spot in the Life Book online class but I also got to pick one of Tam's other courses for free. How cool is that?

So anyhow, I chose to take her class Ultimate World of Whimsy.

Can I just tell you that Tam is awesome. I love her video's. The healing, the art, it's all very easy to listen to and take in. I will have some quiet time tomorrow to focus on the healing part of what Tam talked about in the first video and I am going to work on some stuff.

I started the second video and got through face shapes and eyes, which I have ALWAYS struggled with. The very few canvas' I have done with a figure on them do not have faces, just a face shape so I was really intimidated before. She breaks it down into the steps and it just is awesome.

Here is one that I just penciled out. I love her and I can't wait to practice and do more more more...this is just such a rough pencil sketch and I can't wait to keep improving my face skills. My mind is going wild with idea's.

Definitely head over to http://willowing.ning.com/ and check out Life Book and all of the fantastic classes. You will not be sorry.

Thanks for stopping by.
x0x0x
Madzie

My journals are up for sale

I am so excited to be able to post that my journals are now up for sale in my girl friend Lisa's etsy shop.

You can check them out by clicking the links below.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84624251/fun-fabric-covered-handmade-recycled

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85097559/shabby-shic-handmade-spiral-bound-sewn

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85161339/the-good-stuff-handmade-spiral-bound?ref=v1_other_2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85161599/darling-denim-covered-handmade-recycled

There is one more to be posted, and I have another one in the works.

Also be sure and check out the other items that Lisa makes...they are awesome!!

Thanks for stopping by

x0x0x
Madzie

Time Flying

Wow this week really flew by...I have been busy working on some journal pages for another journal that will be for sale on etsy soon. Also our Jeep broke down this week so between the 3 of us we have had one car.
That's always fun.
We won't have the jeep back in operation until probably Wednesday...

Ill post pictures of the junque journal as soon as I finish it.

Have a great evening.

x0x0x
Madzie

Baking Tonight

I picked up some fresh peaches at Sam's yesterday while I was out shopping.

My intentions were to have them for breakfast but hubby mentioned it would be nice to have some peach cobbler. soooo...I love him so much, and I love to bake so how could I go wrong making some peach cobbler. Now I get to take it to him at work which makes me very happy because I miss him when he's at work.

I use the Paula Dean recipe over at Food Network and it is amazing. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/peach-cobbler-recipe/index.html

Be sure and use Self Rising flour. Trust me I found out the hard way the first time I made it lol.

x0x0x
Madzie

Rockin the Orange

Yes...its Halloween, and yes its fall, but that's not why my blog is orange.

Recently, through Facebook, I have come to know an awesome young woman who is fighting kidney cancer. She is in for a big battle and having surgery this coming Thursday 27th of October.

The orange ribbon represents Kidney cancer survivors and warriors. Being a 17 year survivor of kidney cancer, I will be rockin the orange until my friend Jeri is better.

Thursday I'll be wearing orange in support of her fight and my daughter is wearing orange as well. I hope and pray and send strength and healing wishes Jeri's way every day.

 

x0x0x

Madzie

I feel like the luckiest girl!!!!

I won...I won the most amazing give a way.
A spot in the Life Book online course. Please click the link below and take a look, sign up if you can it is going to be AMAZING!!!

http://willowing.ning.com/page/life-book-2012-open-for-registration

I am so excited. I was in my room and I got the facebook message on my phone and I literally started crying. I know that seems a bit dramatic but I am an emotional person. This has been a very trying year for me, full of life's tests and sacrifices due to a very unexpected job layoff, and this class was something I truly only dreamed of being able to take and be a part of.

THANK YOU SO MUCH Tracy Verdugo... http://artoftracyverdugo.blogspot.com/ 
Tracy is one of the teachers in this amazing online course. Definitely check out her blog, her art work is fabulous and it's just such a happy place to be.

This is description of the course...I can hardly wait to experience all of this with all of the amazing teachers.

Join us for a WHOLE YEAR of amazing growing, art creating, personal development, joy, fun, laughter, friendship, art community, painting, painting, painting, mixed media, gluing, collaging, cutting, sticking things on, drawing, having crazy awesome fun!

And by the end of it, you'll have a beautifully bound journal (or Life Book) with gorgeous art that will have captured your special journey in 2012!

x0x0x

Madzie

Websters Pages give - a - way

Who doesn't love Websters Pages...and now an awesome give - a - way.
They are doing a staff favorites give - a - way and wow it's just all so awesome.

I don't know how they all chose just one favorite.

I think ANYTHING Websters is the Beez Kneez...hehe...

head over and follow the instructions enter to win. http://websterspages.typepad.com/webstershome/2011/10/wanna-win-websters-staff-favorites.html

Thanks for stopping by
x0x0x
Madzie

For someone very very special

I recently had someone friend request me on facebook and I am so glad she did.

She is fighting a battle with kidney cancer, and me being a kidney cancer survivor, I feel such a connection to her.

She is a warrior, brave and strong and full of hope and in need of a miracle. I pray for her so much.

She will be having surgery in the next week and I just felt like I needed to do something. I wanted to send her some brightness, some support, and a piece of me, of my miracle.

This is what I made for her today and I am sending it tomorrow.

God Bless Jeri. Here's hopes for a speedy and successful recovery.

Thanks for stopping by
x0x0x
Madzie

Halloween Canvas

Well...all of my Halloween decorations are in storage and I just can't get to them so I decided to do an 11x14  canvas so I could have something out for my favorite season.

I am not quite finished with it yet. I need to figure out what to do on the boots for laces. Black won't show so I'm contemplating....

Anyhow this is where I'm at with it today...I love it so far.

The background was plain orange then I did swirlies all over it with my darker orange pit pen. It's hard to see in the picture but looks pretty cool in person...

Thanks for stopping by

x0x0x
Madzie

AWESOME GIVE AWAY

Tracy Verdugo is going to be one of the teacher's for the year long course called Life Book 2012...this is going to be insanely awesome.

She is giving away a spot in the course and also one of her A M A Z I N G works of art.
Click the linky link below
http://artoftracyverdugo.blogspot.com/2011/10/life-book-giveaway.html?showComment=1318670796457#c5949276711770959406

I entered and I hope I win...it will be such an awesome year of sharing, growing, learning and creating.

Definitely head over there and click on the links to check out the entire course. Take a look at Tracy's art work all over her blog too...it is awesome stuff.

Thanks
x0x0x
Madzie

Beautiful Day

I completed the hand made journals I have been working on and got them off to my friend in Arizona who is going to list them in her shop on Etsy...I am so lucky to know such a generous person.

Here are some teaser pictures of them..
They should be up for sale sometime next week...
Ill post the link to the shop as soon as they are listed...

Journal Covers

Miscellaneous inside pages...

Thanks for stopping by

x0x0x
Madzie