Here I am

I know I have been missing in action, but I am back.  I have been a little busy with visiting family and a zillion other things.  I wanted to share my favorite space with you today.  It started with a new quilt that I made, and ended with a new bedroom. Its my first feminine bedroom I have had in over 20 years.  I figured with the new me, I deserved a new place to rest, renew, and be me. 

Love, Me

Proud Mama

My first baby graduated from High School on friday.  We are so proud of him! What a great young man.  We had a huge party for him on Saturday.  Lots of family and friends came to celebrate his success.  The weather cooperated and we had tons of fun.

Our daughter Becca is congratulating her big brother on his job well done.  These two love each other so very much.

This is my mom and my sister.  Aren't they beautiful?

Where will you be in one year?

Do you know where you will be by this time next year?  I can tell you where I wanted to be, and I am doing it. I am 9 months into my weight loss journey and still going strong.  I feel so much better, healthier, and revived.  It is as though I have been struggling so hard for the last 20 years to roll a bolder up a mountain, and this last year I hit the top.  As I exercised everyday, ate smaller portions, and healthier food the bolder crested this mountain.  Once over the top it rolls so much easier down the hill.  I feel like chasing it down the mountain now.  It gets easier everyday. 

Fill you life with love, you deserve it.  I post this today as a reminder to myself where I have been, and how strong I am. I hope it inspires a least one person to go for what you want. Peel back those layers and find the real you.  The you who has gifts and talents to share with the world.

Love, Me

Learning to let go and find my creativity

I believe that creativity is in us all.  It is suppressed by our ego and our fear of failure.  I am learning everyday how to free myself from my own judgement.  I am perfect just the way I am and everything I need to live a wonderful life is in me, just waiting to be free.

This piece is about my confidence and how it is growing and stretching.  Reaching for a height unseen.  If there is something I want to do, I do it. Something I want to learn, I learn it.  This is my suggestion to you all.  Don't wait for life to happen, make it happen.  Don't be afraid to try, whats the worst that can happen?  You might learn something.

Love, Me

Someone Special

Today has been a great day!  I spent it creating a special painting for someone I love, read my new magazine "Where Women Create", and had some time with the kids. I hope you found some joy in your day.

Mothers Day gift done

Finally recouped enough to spend the day creating. Oh how I missed my office, and my neck couldn't take another day in bed.

So I took some of my own advice and tried the collage canvas project that I posted prior to today. Here is a laser color copy of my artwork in mirror image.







Decoupage medium was applied to both the canvas and the copy. Then I pressed out the bubbles the best I could. I'm not going to repeat the rest of the steps, as it will bore you.
















I painted the edges and applied a final coat of decoupage medium.

In the end this is what I got. I must not have gotten all of the bubbles out because some of the print came off. But I am pleased with the results and I hope my Step-Mom will like it.

Tell me what you think.

Who have I become? A treat for you crafties

I feel like I am constantly changing, trying to improve and be the best "ME" that I can. Learning to love yourself takes practice, patience, and perseverance. (whew big word, but I did it) I know my weaknesses and strengths and I work on them both everyday. I have a life worth living, and I am going to live it to it's fullest.

I hope that somewhere in this blog you will find a reason to follow me and be inspired to live your best life. I know that there are thousands of other women/mothers out there who experience a similar life to mine and we can all benefit from each other. Some of you may just want to exchange your thoughts, some may want to concur the battle of the bulge, others may want to share their craft and make some money for their families. I want it all! So your comments are always welcome and appreciated. I am always in the market for some new friends.

Check out how to make this "Mixed Media Photo Collage" for Mom

Post surgery

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately I had surgery on Tuesday. I am happy to report that I am doing well. I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy due to 2 large fibroid tumors. The surgery went fine, I guess one of my ovaries was attached to my intestine so that had to be repaired. The only complication that I am really having is my bladder wont wake up. We are hoping for success tomorrow. I can't wait to get back into my craft room.

My office of creativity

This is my creative mess. The place I spend most of my time. It's a very small room, but if it was any bigger I would just fill it with more stuff. Now just know that it isn't clean like this most of the time, actually it is never this clean. But I love it and that's all that matters.

Sunday creativity and beautiful day

Allow me to introduce you to my schnauzer "Molly". She is our baby of the family and spoiled rotten. Today was so beautiful outside, and she was basking in the sun. Molly is our little fetcher, she greets us at the door with a toy in her mouth. It's as though she is saying "wanna play, wanna play".









I spent most of the day outside creating some new paintings. In the end I had 6 beautiful creations and the most glorious sunburn. It will be a warm night tonight in my bed.

So here's to the end of another great weekend and hoping for a productive week in ETSY land.

New necklaces, beautiful day, and new mini album

As the days get warmer I start craving beautiful salads. My Mom made this yummy one and I just had to take a picture of it to share with you. I haven't talked about this much, but I am on a weigh loss journey, trying to find myself. I have kept myself hidden under layers of extra weight as a way of protecting myself. Last September when the kids went back to school I found my way to the gym. I turned 40, and told myself that it was time to start living. I had been suffering from depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and sleep apnea. My outlook was very gloomy. So off to the gym, doctor, and councilor I went. I also found a great free podcast to keep me going (Inside Out Weight Loss by Renee Stephens). Its been kind of easy with her help.

So where am I today you ask? I exercise 1 hour everyday, eat better, and have lost 25 lbs. I am off of my BP pills, diabetes pills, and cholesterol pills. I don't go to the councilor anymore, and my creativity has blossomed. I look forward to everyday, and am so happy to be alive with so much time to live.

Mothers Day is coming around the corner. I took one of my child's artwork and made it into a necklace. So with this idea in mind I took some mini prints of my artwork and made pendants out of them. They are listed on my ETSY shop.


Two days ago I received a request for a custom 6x6 album using pink, black, zebra, and damask prints. The collection that I came up with is here in this photo.
So needless to say I ran with it. It was such a fun theme to put together. The album cover is made with pink and black zebra furry fabric. There are 10 pages and lots of ribbon. I want one for myself now. I hope it inspires you too.

Spring flowers, Baking, Magnets

-MY ART
Today in my craft room I received my purchase from "Sun and Moon Craft Kits". I ordered some 1"x1" glass squares and magnets. They are so nice! The quality is amazing! I am going to make some mini artwork magnets with them and some artwork pendents. Here is a sneak peak. Let me know what you think.



-MY HEART
Oh summer, where are you??? Finally today the sun came out to play. The trees are blooming, the grass is green, and I am ready for summer.

HaaaaChoooooo!




-MY LIFE
When the Lord gives you ripe bananas......

...bake banana bread. The house smelled so good all day. Don't you wish we had smell-o-vision?



Tonya

Lazy Day

I love a lazy day around the house, but I can never seem to do nothing. I have managed to stay in my PJ's but I can't get off of this computer. My morning started out with sleeping in, then I made some pancakes (there is just something about Sunday Morning Pancakes).

I thought I knew a lot about blogging, but I was wrong. So I guess I will be taking it very slow and reading all I can to keep learning. I devoured the book "Blogging for Bliss" and just loved it. Lets see how this goes.

Tonya

Day 1

Today you were given a name "Big T Little o".