Spring Is Here

Spring has sprung! There are tiny little buds coming out on my miniature rose bush. I'm so happy but at the same time I'm swamped with yard work. Oh my! I look around my yard and I don't know where to start. With the worst drought on record last summer and the wettest, coldest winter in a long long time, we have a big mess on our hands. Half of my grass is dead and full of weeds. I have tons of perennials to cut back. I have not had to trim them back in years because we have not had any freezes hard enough to kill them. The oak leaves are falling so I guess  I'll wait until they have dropped  to begin the work. Even with all this complaining I'm really not...if that makes sense. :) I'm soooo ready for spring.

My son and his girlfriend went to the coast for spring break and brought me back this huge bag of shells. They hit the mother load. I love shells and love to look for them. They said the beach was full of them. Now I know, you got to go in spring to get the good sized ones. Not sure what I'm going to do with all these, but I'm sure I will think of something.

Don't laugh but I had to take a picture of the little bit of snow we received this winter. I know it was not much but hey.....when it snows in south Texas it's a big deal.

My yard and my art await me so I must get to work.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful spring.

hUgS

Charlie

Item for Charity Art Auction

"Scrappy Art Tote"

Starting bid is $15.00 usd
If you would like to own this one of kind handmade tote,
(handmade by me) make sure you click this link Inspiration Avenue starting Sunday March 7 to place a bid.

All the proceeds will go to Angel Faces.

The auction will last one week March 7th. - March 14th.

Now a little something about my Scrappy Art Totes!



I made my original tote because I wanted something artsy to carry my art supplies in when I go on trips. I also wanted to make something that represented my style, something that combined my artwork with my other passions like my love of scrapbooking and sewing.
I create each of my totes to look like a scrapbook page. They measure 12" x 12 " like the traditional sized scrapbook paper. Fabric and scrap paper are so similar in design and can be layered in the same way. For this tote I used the painting of the little girl "Purity" that I painted a few weeks ago. She is transferred onto a fabric transfer sheet, and sewn on layers of fabric in a cute and whimsical way. This tote and most all my totes are embellished with paper flowers, buttons and ribbons, just like a scrapbook page would be decorated. I added the quote " A life without dreams is like a garden without flowers."
The back side is done in the same way. There is a pocket big enough for your cell phone or any of your treasures. The inside of the tote is lined with a nice soft pink floral and I have a heavy interfacing in between each side to give the tote some heft. I made the straps on this tote extra long, (21 inches) so it can be worn easily over the shoulder.

I will pay for the shipping for this auction.

If you have any questions about this tote or the auction please leave a comment or email me.
Thanks for looking!
Hugs,
Charlie

My Weekend

Here is my son. He would probably die if he knew I was posting a picture of him on my blog. My daughter knows better, that's why she wont let me take pictures of her. This is a picture of my son's new hair cut. He does it himself. Just the thought of him cutting his own hair cracks me up. He is so particular about it. I guess he can't trust anyone to do what he wants. It's most likely he doesn't want to pay anyone....hehe. The picture is taken with my iphone. I'm so surprised by the good quality. Compared to my old phone it's great. Our iphones are my son's and my newest obsession. He is on top of all the apps that are out and keeps mine up to date. Oh well I had a wonderful weekend because we went to visit him yeterday. He and his dad played golf while I shopped. Then as always we took him out to dinner. He doesn't live that far from us and he comes home quite a bit, but I still miss him. Today was spent with my daughter. She has a new job and works long hours, so we don't get to see her much either. I'd gladly spend all my time with my kids if I could.

I did manage to finish and take pictures of the item I will be donating to the auction. I made another scrappy art tote and can't wait to post it. The auction starts next Sunday March 7th. It will go for a week. You will have to go to Inspiration Avenue blog to bid on any of the items.
I will post my item here this week and then it will go up on the team blog Saturday.
It would be greatly appreciated if you would blog about the auction on your blog. The money is going to a good charity, so the more we can get the word out the better.

Oopsy Daisy

I just listed these in my Etsy Store Charlotte's Collection. They are from my Oopsy Daisy Collection. There are 5 more to match. These two just happen to by my favorites. Skip on over there to take a gander at the rest.

BTW it actually snowed for about 5 seconds here in good ole S.A. It was neat while it lasted. It is all melted now. It's been a very drizzly, nasty day. A very good day to stay in the p.j's.

I'm glad I got all of these items listed so now I can rest and take it easy. My stomach has never been the same since last Thursday. Don't let anyone tell you that a colonoscopy is a breeze. Mine would not have been so bad if I could have had the procedure at 8:00 am. But noooo my Dr. had mine scheduled at 2:00 pm and of course then he ran an hour late. I was so hungry and weak that the sedatives made me sick. I was the last person to leave. It's so embarrassing. I felt everything too so more sedation. I guess I'm a whimp. Everyone else is laughing and talking because they are high on the drugs. Not me. So the lesson to take from this is to schedule your procedure as early as possible.
On another note I sold my scrappy art tote almost as soon as I listed it. It was such a delightful surprise.

Charity Auction

Inspiration avenue is planning an art auction. It will run from March 7th - 14th. They will be donating 100% of the proceeds to the Award winning charity, Angel Faces.

About the Charity
These girls have facial disfigurements due to burns and are taught how to overcome the social challenges that they face every day because they look different. They are counseled one on one and in group settings. These girls get to participate in therapeutic art through mosaics, jewelry making, drawing, journaling and verbal expression.. These girls get to be themselves for one whole week, without being judged. These young ladies experience amazing psychological transformations during this week. Some of their comments, stories and photos are on the Angel Faces website. You can click the above link for more information.

There will be loads of original art from all the members of Inspiration Avenue for you to bid on. I'm sure there will be something for everyone. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to help the girls at Angel Faces and buy some art at the same time.
I will be donating an item from my Etsy shop or maybe something new.
Stay tuned for more information.

Sneek Peek

Tada! Here is what I've been working on for the past few weeks. Remember a couple of weeks ago I stated that I was working on a new project.....Take a peek. I have not decided what to call it yet. If you can't tell what it is.... it's a tote. I've made one other one as well because I thought I should have more then one to offer when I list it in my Etsy shop. But I goofed it up a little......I'm sooooo upset. My brain has been a scrambling with ideas. My hands can't seem to work fast enough. I've been sewing and cutting and having all kinds of fun designing. But....now I'm sort of at a stand still so think I'll regroup and list this by itself. I think....hehe. I'm so undecided!
Today will not be a good day for me, because I have to start taking that awful stuff in preparation for my colonoscopy tomorrow. YUK!!! I'm not looking forward to that. I'm only trying to get in as much work this morning before the you know what kicks in! Wish me luck!
Hugs,
Charlie

Heart

This weeks challenge at Inspiration Avenue is Heart.
So here is my little Valentine to all of you.
Enjoy!
x0x0x0x0
Charlie

Please visit IA by clicking the above link to see all the entries.

An early Valentines for Me

I can't believe Valentine's is this Sunday! Where has the time gone? I have done absolutely nothing for Valentines yet. I need to go shopping and get my hubby a little something. He usually buys me a box of chocolates and then he's the one who eats them all. lol. Too cute! I don't mind. I'll eat a couple out of the box but I know they are mainly for him.
It's a silly holiday anyway. I guess since I have someone in my life I don't think about it much. I don't care if I get anything.
On that note...lol! I told my hubby not to get me anything because I got an iphone a couple of weeks ago. The iphone is my valentines this year. I know I'm spoiled. My son and I have been waiting forever to get off our old cell phone plan. We did not want to break the contract...too expensive. It finally ran out! Free at last! We immediately ran out and got iphones and I absolutely love it! Now I have another toy. I can text now too! I hated to text on my old phone because it took me forever. My old phone did not have the abc keyboard. All I can say is the iphone is great! It's so easy. Love the aps too! ewwhhh I feel so hip now. lol.

Sites In Texas Hill Country

Can you figure out what this is? Yes it's a camel! A couple of weekends ago my hubby and I went for a drive. We enjoy driving the back roads, because obviously there is so much more to see. Case in point, camels in someones front yard! I had to stop and take pictures. But of course by the time we turned around and I ran across the highway, climbed on the fence to take the picture, they (the camels) started marching to the back yard. I only got their back side.
All I can say is Only In Texas! lol!

Yummy Texture

"Texture Picture"

I've been working on a new project and it's taking me longer then expected. I'm so excited about it! I'm stirring up a big mess in my studio and my house, but that's a good thing. It means my creative juices are flowing. I must have a one track mind because I have not been able to work on anything else. I'm a woman obsessed. I have not made any new jewelry for my etsy shop. I have not worked in any of the photoshop classes, so nothing new to show there. I have not been here to blog either. I don't mean to neglect any one but like I said I'm a woman obsessed and can't do anything else until I finish this project.
Above is a texture picture I took last week or the week before when I went out to look for texture shots for the photoshop class. Thank goodness I did it then because it's been raining here ever since. I'm so tired of the rain! And so ready for spring.
Hugs,
Charlie