Summertime....

Wait a minute...snowman in summertime!??? Is something wrong with this picture? Nope...it's Holly Jolly July over at PFATT Marketplace right now, and the snowman guy above is a new collage piece I created just for this event! I was also lucky enough to be chosen as the featured artist for the month of July, so you can read all about how I got started on my artistic journey, and what inspires me. You can check it out here.
This looks a little more like summer! I only had one chance to snap this pic of a pretty butterfly feeding in my front yard before it flew away....
Here are some of my recent summertime flea market finds....love the vintage ballet slippers!!
Part of our fourth of July celebration included a stop in Santa Cruz for some fun in the sun at the beach.....
And at the boardwalk! It felt great to dip our toes in the ocean, and we had a blast on all of the rides!


Here's a recent steampunk necklace I created using antique glass beads, watch parts, and a tintype photograph. I just love how this one turned out!

Try to stay cool this summer, and I hope you are able to have a lot of summertime fun of your own!

Sneak Peek & Valentine's Givaway!

Of my new Valentine's offering on PFATT for January. This is my first new piece for 2008....a one of a kind! You'll be able to see the the rest of it tonight when PFATT is updated at Midnight Pacific Standard time.

NEWS!!! I have decided to hold a Valentine's Day giveaway to kick off the new year! It will be a goody package all done in a Valentine's day theme, and I won't spoil the surprise, but I will tell you that among the goodies will be a one of a kind piece especially designed just for this! You can enter for the giveaway by leaving me a comment on this post, or by signing up to be notified for my future blog updates in the upper left corner. Please be sure that you have your email or a link back to your blog or website listed, so that I will be able to contact you if you are the winner. I will accept names until January 31st, and will be drawing the winner's name on February 1st so that they'll receive it in plenty of time to enjoy it for the Holiday. My good friend Lana of Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joy's is hosting her own giveaway this month, and she inspired me to do the same. Please be sure to pop over to her blog too and enter your name for her upcoming giveaway of wonderful creations. Update...for those of you that post about my giveaway on your blog, I will be holding a separate drawing for a thank you gift! Please email me to let me know that you posted about it on yours and I will throw your name in the hat.

Here are some fun little mushroom's that sprouted up in my yard today....I just love mushrooms! There is something magical about them I think.....and they remind me of gnomes, trolls and fairy's.....and hidden places deep in the forest.