follow your bliss

in with the new; out with the old

2007-01-07T15:04:00.000-06:00

it's done. i've switched over to wordpress because i can no longer deal with the eccentrities of old blogger! so if you're game (& i hope that you are!) pls. check out my new digs over here. it's the same little ol' me, just different address is all...see ya there! the old blog will remain to redirect y'all to my new digs...c'mon over...i can't wait to have you stop by! ta-ta blogger!

beloved, touched & blessed

2007-01-06T08:48:00.000-06:00

that is how i feel at this moment in time... when i started this blogging journey nearly a year ago, never in my wildest imagination would i ever dream that i'd come to regard many of you as such dear friends, blog sistas, & kindred spirits! & for as long as i can remember, i've always found such great joy in making & giving things away to those i care for & appreciate. & when i send my little tokens of affection, i do not expect anything in return. it just makes me happy knowing that i sent some goodies someone's way, sharing the creative wealth & good cheer>>> hopefully bringing a smile to someone's face. that's just how i rolls...& my dh tells me never to change that about myself! but when i receive unexpected gifts, like i had yesterday, i am rendered speechless & utterly surprised because i do not expect anything. when i received not one but two packages in yesterday's mail, my heart was (& still is) bursting with gratitude & joy...i cannot believe the overflowing generosity & love i felt from these packages... dear pauline sent me this incredible box of wonderful goodies>>>i am astounded by how beautifully packaged everything was (i didn't want to undo the pretty wrappings) & the incredible amount of stuff she put in there>>>it seemed never ending! she sent me two lovely books, which i have already read! (i am a speed reader & they were such tender tear-jerkers!)...pauline, i *heart* you & everything that you sent me! i will treasure everything that you have so lovingly sent me! & then dear corey lavished me with antique french papers, ribbons, lace, postcards, music sheet scraps from her extensive personal collection...i was actually going to BUY this set from her wicked cool french flea market shop (which btw, y'all NEED to check out because she has a FANTABULOUS collection of FRENCH vintage GOODIES for sale!)...i am feeling rather SPOILT by corey!!!!!! MILLE MERCI BEAUCOUPs corey!!!!!!!!!!!! i amazed how much stuff i kept pulling out of that deceptively small packet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i *heart* you & for sharing so generously some of your fabulous collection! yes, today i am feeling very much beloved, touched & blessed. thank you blog world for connecting me to such lovely & generous spirits! i'll end this post with a s.w.a.k.

studio friday

2007-01-05T08:42:00.000-06:00

this week's topic for studio friday is suggested by susan: CHANGING NAMES... "I've been reading Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Habit and here's an idea from her book - " the ancient masters of Japanese art were allowed to change their name once in their lifetime. They had to be very selective about the moment in their career when they did so. They would stick with their given name until they felt they had become the artist they aspired to; at that point, they were allowed to change their name. For the rest of their life, they would work under the new name at the height of their powers." So let's presume we are at the height of our careers - what name would you choose and why? " ~ Susan ***

this was a head scratcher for me. never given much thought about wanting to change my name, other than my surname when i was getting married...i looked up my name, mary ann, & it comes from the latin marianna, which means "beloved". i like that actually. it suits me...but i do want to play in sf this week...i've been mia for sometime from this group. so i surfed the net to see what i would change my name to. & this is what struck my fancy>>>kimimela akua>>>it is african for "butterfly born on wednesday"... butterflies are a favorite motif of mine & they also signify metamorphasis, don't they? & while perusing the aisles of an antique mall a few weeks ago, i remembered finding a vintage calendar & it was of the year i was born...just for kicks, i looked up my birthday in this old calendar & saw that i was born on a wednesday. & then i found those african names>>>too cool, huh? now, don't ask me how to pronounce my new name...your guess is as good as mine!

friday's finds

2007-01-05T07:55:00.000-06:00

happy friday & 11th day of christmas! since i've been feeling cruddy this past week (blasted sinus infection!), i haven't done any offline shopping. but i did do some on-line shopping during school break & purchased those wicked cool arty books (wow, TONS of drooling on my part!) that i wrote about in the last post below & also these cool stamps & cd from stamp diva, which are my finds for this week's friday's finds. my weekend starts today & so i hope that i can come up with something creative with these new finds>>> like getting started on my valentine atcs for the flickr swap i'm hosting! my dear blog sista, jude, has already started working on hers & even posted a pic of one of her creations on flickr! yikes, i better get crack-a-lacking!

a trying day

2007-01-03T19:19:00.000-06:00

i dreaded going back to school this morning after having been off since 12/15! how rude to be jarred awake by the @$#%& alarm clock!!! & i still was feeling crappy...the thought did cross my mind to call the school & say i was not feeling well (which was true!) but then i realized i would have to make up the missed day on one of my days off....uh, i chose to suck it up & drag my butt to the school. it wasn't too bad until i came across this kiddo i'll call "t". man! he was not a happy camper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he just about threw a HUGE hissy fit for a solid 10 minutes about how he was not coming with me to do therapy. i was gonna cut my losses & walk away...but the classroom teacher basically bargained with him & made him go. i'm not one to force anyone into therapy...that's not my style...but still, i remained calm, saying nothing as he sobbed hysterically walking to my therapy room. i kept thinking, how incredibly sad to see this little guy so stressed out & how hard it was for him to transition from one activity to the next. he eventually cooled off & we had our session. even before school vacation, t almost always reacted this way when it was time to go for speech therapy...after his shrieking, he eventually settles down & we, believe it or not, end up having good sessions...i almost half expect the terrible scene each & every time i come for the little guy, but today, it really took a lot outta me to deal with him...y'know, weather out his storm... i don't know, but he is much too young to be so troubled...so much tension & anxiety in this young boy... yet such is the life of a child with autism>>>when it rains, it really pours! i've been reading up on how to recognize & diffuse/divert potential "neurological storms" (as one book called them), like remaining calm & being non-punitive are recommended strategies. makes me wonder how he functions at home? how his family deals with his meltdowns & fits? it was disheartening to learn from some teachers about his rather chaotic home life...i saw t later in the day & he was having yet another meltdown in the classroom...he just was not having a good day being back after being off for so long. thankfully my other students were more accepting to be back in school! i wasn't feeling 100 percent today at school & having had to deal with t's meltdown kinda drained my energy for the rest of the day>>> i was never so glad to go home when the school bell rang! i was invited to dinner by a couple of pals but i was not feeling up to much of anything...i was SPENT...i had to decline the kind invitation, which i felt bad, but i desperately wanted to go home & lie down! wasn't i pleasantly surprised to find these lovelies in the mail?! i had ordered these books during break & here they are...my drained spirit started to lift... i can't wait to devour every last page of these books, which i have been coveting for some time now...i know, it's a huge splurge...but i work hard for these simple pleasures! ahhh, i can't wait to get my hands on them as i soak in a hot, soothing tub. sometimes it's necessary to unwind & feed the soul especially after a trying day.

not bad for a gal who's under the weather...

2007-01-02T15:50:00.000-06:00

hi all! not feeling the best today, but as i laid in bed (re)reading this past summer issue of somerset studio>>>i found this article by danielle of the vintage dragonfly of her wicked cute jar fairies that i thought i'd give it go. just the other day i found a plain old leaded glass lantern & i got inspired! i thought of just the perfect piece that would fit inside & stuck one of my collage pieces i did a while ago for wednesday stamper...then added a few other doodads & what- nots...et voila! my very own altered lantern...this was wicked fun to make {& addictive too, lol}! i definitely will make more of these...but i think this is enough creative excitement for this tired gal...back for a lie down...but i do plan on making more of these lovelies...just when i feel more energetic! {wink}.

my new digicam & a look back...

2007-01-01T12:36:00.000-06:00

i am sooooooooooooo excited to have my new digicam! GONE are the days of trekking to the super-walmart & getting those one-hr photo cds made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yipee-i-ay!!!! i can upload pics to my computer, sha-zammmm! i've spent the weekend acquainting myself with my new toy & all its lovely features. & i think i've got the basic grasp...this is an upgrade from my old nikon cam & i'm lovin' the sleekness & tiny-ness of it all & the wicked cute pink & brown cam case>>> just darlin'! i finally was able to take snaps of these lovely prezzies i got just the day after christmas from a dear flickr pal, monica...she made this lovely tree ornie with such loving details... & she sent me this beautiful emu ornie...i was amazed that it did not get damaged in the post because it is rather fragile... i was so surprised & elated to receive these wonderful package from her>>>thank you so much monica! i'm quite touched by your gifts & i will treasure them always {smile}.

*** i got this idea from blog pal weirdbunny (thanks julia!)>>> she got this idea from a pal of hers in which you go into your archives & write the 1st sentence of each month's post of 2006. so i thought i'd give it a whirl (pls. note that i started my blogging journey last february):

***

februrary '06: a dear friend of mine told me about her blog & how much she enjoys it. march '06: how much longer do i have to hang on? april '06: he who lives without folly isn't so wise as he thinks ~~francois duc de la rochefoucald. may '06: my dear friend annie is in town & i can't wait to spend my day off tomorrow with her! june '06: the pocketbook i fashioned out of a plain wooden box with handle, which i found in the clearance aisle at wal-mart... july '06: this season i will...is the topic for this week's mmm. august '06: snaps we took of our weekend visiting the fam in chi-town. september '06: fun vintage stuff i found at that estate sale i had gone to with angie wangie in st. louie. october '06: hi blog sistas & friends! november '06: all day today at school, i kept wishing that the day would hurry up! december '06: this week's topic for studio friday is what's your favorite color combination?

***

it may not look like much, but believe me, these are but a fraction of what each month contained for the past year (561 posts, to be exact!)...which brings me to the topic of switching...well, i've looked into wordpress & i'm very tempted to switch over because i do actually like the looks of the pages there...but i've a bit of a prob, you see. wordpress, i'm told, is "static" & won't take movable side widgets, such as flickr & neocounter...two things i've become accustomed to seeing on my current blog...& if i switch over to wp, then i wouldn't be able to have either one in my new sidebar. which i'm not sure whether or not i could live without yet... so at the moment, i'll be staying put a little while longer.darn it all tho! i so was looking forward to a new look...{sigh}. but at least i have a gleaming new digicam!

ringing in 2007

2007-01-01T00:22:00.000-06:00

reflection

2006-12-31T19:01:00.000-06:00

just a few hours left & 2006 will be history...new year's eve seems to put people in a pensive mood. i reflect on the past year & also what i hope to accomplish in the new year. HOPE is the key word here as so much of our future dreams, plans, goals, etc. are built on this. for me, HOPE helps ease me into the new year... as i look back, it's been an awfully eventful year, especially when i discovered blogging! & when i started creating art again after such a long absence...i also struck out on my own, left my draining hospital job & went into private practice as well as opened an etsy shop. along the way, i met some incredibly amazing & talented folks, both in bloggyland & off-line, gone on a few trips with dh & by myself, spent time with family, participated in various swaps>>>i could go on & on, but i won't bore you with all the minutiae. let's suffice it to say that it's been an eventful year...my blog helped greatly to document many of these events & i'm glad that i can look back into my archives to help my brain cells recall... for the new year, i hope to continue my creative endeavors & go on as many adventures (like to maine with the dh) with even more fervor & passion than ever before! & like this past year, my blog (& i'm still debating whether or not to switch over to another site) will continue to document my thoughts, art, musings, glimpses into my life in cheeseland. yes, there's alot to be hopeful in the new year...let's toast to a very healthy, happy & creative 2007!

friday's finds

2006-12-29T07:18:00.000-06:00

after christmas, i decided i wanted to avoid the craziness at the usual big box stores (after black friday last thanksgiving, i'm still a bit shell-shocked from the red-eyed crowds). & i also wanted to search out unique holiday/seasonal items (at what else? bargain prices *smile*) to include in my winter collection. so i went to 2 local shops (one posh place>>>oooh-la-la, filled with french & romantic inspired home goods & cranberry moon, another antique-y, vintage shop)...& look! i found more of those vintage snowmen/people that i have admired from afar but now able to scoop up, thanks to after xmas sales... plus, it's so much nicer to support small, local businesses...i really do try to support local & indie businesses when i can. i used to do more of that when i lived in maine (because the nearest big box stores/mega malls were an hour's drive away)... ever since a colleague of mine gave me a snowman figure for christmas many moons ago, i've collected snowmen of all shapes, sizes & media... snowmen are just so darn convenient (& not too mention cute) for home decorating because i can set them out all winter long...not only just at christmastime. but over the past couple of years, i've become a bit more discriminating & now only look for vintage-inspired ones such as what i've found for this week's friday's finds. about the same time when my search for these vintage snowmen began, i gave my old snowmen collection to my mom, which she has enjoyed (as well as other family members). i have them all hanging out upstairs...& where they will stay until after valentine's day... i found this engagement calendar by folks called, green paper press...each page is filled with these sweet images...too wicked cute for words really...also found on sale! then i went to my fave local antique mall, campus antiques, where i found these lovelies...i love going there bec. it never fails that i can always find dirt-cheap vintage photos & postcards>>>a real treasure tove! if you are ever in this part of cheeseland, i would be happy to take you there & you can go buck wild if you so desire, lol! there are so many neat little "stuff" that you can find in there & not go for broke either! well, these are my finds for the week...i hope that you will show & tell either here or here. happy 4th day of christmas!

what does yours say?

2006-12-28T10:17:00.000-06:00

Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"

A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out.Your heart is open to where ever love takes you! Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking What turns you off: fighting and conflict Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

what to do

2006-12-28T09:14:00.000-06:00

i've gotten so used to blogger, even if i'm still in "old" blogger...i've tried countless times to switch over...but each time i was told that i can't switch because my blog is TOO BIG! yikes! who'd thought that 561 posts in less than a year would be considered BIG?! well, i've looked into wordpress & i'm thinking about closing my blogger blog & going over to wordpress...but i'm hesitant bec. i've got to learn all over again how to navigate through wordpress! i'm not much of a techno-savvy person so this would be HUGE for me to switch! & how do i transfer my blogroll & buttons & badges, for goodness sake?! i'm still debating this... the thought of starting all over is not making me a happy camper. but i am tired of being told my blog is too huge to switch over... still it may not be so bad to throw out the old & be in with the new....hmmm, we shall see.

& the winners are

2006-12-28T06:52:00.000-06:00

hooray!!! many thanks to all who played this week's wysiwyg wednesday>>>i so appreciate your support & participation! i believe i have your addies, you lucky recipients you...will pop your ww freebie in the mail by the end of the week. in the meantime, happy 3rd day of christmas!

wordless wednesday

2006-12-27T08:49:00.000-06:00

there's still time

2006-12-27T07:36:00.000-06:00

to sign up for my oh-so charming valentine atc swap...i've extended the sign-up until 1/7/07. & to further entice you, i found these nifty vintage stickers from karen foster designs... wouldn't these be so wicked cute to use in a valentine atc? so far we have a nice bunch gathered for this swap...but there's always room for more love! p.s., if you still crave more love, check out swap-bot's valentine's day swap...i've joined in on the fun & you can too!

wysiwyg wednesday

2006-12-27T07:16:00.000-06:00

it's that time again to play wysiwyg wednesday, yay! i can't get over that this is the last ww before the new year>>>where did the time go??? item #1 up for grabs is this scrap mag that is literally collecting dust in my studio! pls. somebody get this off my hands! this was the mag that gave me the idea to use those brown paper lunch bags to make my cookie swap recipe books last year (2005)...since i know how to make mini books, i think i will pass this mag on for someone who wants the 411! item #2 is another scrap mag that is majorily collecting dust...if you are a heidi swapp or tim holtz fan, then this mag is for you! & also, lots of nifty ideas for winter! c'mon, someone's gotta want this! & item #3... wouldn't you know that this actually a duplicate? i unwittingly bought this thinking i didn't already own it, but i so do! i've been known to buy things in dupes & even (gasp!) triplicates...i know, my bad is your good...this is a wicked cool mag, chock full of cool altered art ideas...i know someone would love to have this copy... that's all she wrote for this week's wysiwyg wednesday....if you've played before, you know the deal>>>let me know what strikes your fancy & i'll take names until 10 pm cst tonight...i will announce the lucky folks tomorrow...good luck & may the good karma shine on you!

i can't believe this & did you know?

2006-12-27T06:30:00.000-06:00

these sweet little ones are my dear friend's chitlins...i have known them since j. (left) was 2 & a.(right) was 4.... i met these chitlins when i met their mom during my ol' airline days many (too many!) moons ago... we would all go on trips everywhere...like in the above pic...we trekked out to boston one sunny weekend...i went for the day & they stayed the whole weekend. they were like part of my extended family...we spent a lot time together back in the day...my friend used to dub her chitlins' as "wild children" but they really were sweethearts, mischievous & also whiney at times, but overall, sweeties...i was like a big kid to them & oh how we played & had great fun! i can remember j. asking me to give him horsey-back rides & a. wanting me to watch her vast collection of disney videos>>>as if it were like yesterday... whoa, time sure does fly, y'know?...i got an email from a. yesterday & she announced that she's getting married!!!!!!!!!!! i was shocked beyond belief but thrilled for her. to me, those kids will always be the sweet chitlins i knew when they were wee like in the pics above & i cannot get over that both of them are grown now! i feel so OOOOOOOLD... over the last couple of weeks before christmas, i kept hearing on the radio, "the twelve days of christmas" meaning the 12 days leading up to christmas...well, i kept wanting to call the radio station & telling them how inaccurate that was! the twelve days of christmas actually refer to the 12 days after christmas, not before like the radio folks kept saying! read all about the history here...on the twelfth night is when i usually dismantle all the holiday decos & the tree...which i'm glad because i can still enjoy the beautiful glow & magic of our sparkly tree just a little while longer. having said that, happy 2nd day of christmas!

la salle de bain

2006-12-26T07:16:00.000-06:00

hope you had a wonderful holiday! my final red entry for self-portrait challenge this week... i never thought to take snaps in the bathroom as we don't have any windows in there...though we do have natural lightbulbs in there to simulate that we do... i love our little bathroom as my dh did all the lovely trimwork, beadboard & installed tiny hexagon porcelain floor tile. it's an old-timey look i was after for our bath...one day it would be fab to switch out our plain tub for a lovely clawfoot one...oh well, it doesn't hurt to dream.

to you & yours

2006-12-25T06:27:00.000-06:00

peace, mary ann & joe xo

warm wishes

2006-12-24T21:50:00.000-06:00

from our house to yours!

'twas the night before christmas

2006-12-24T21:41:00.000-06:00

(snow in the air, a poem by caryl brahms) will there be snow tommorrow when early i wake up to peep? will the street be tucked under its eider of feathery softness asleep? will the pond in the village be frozen? will the green be a crisp sea of white? will the whole world be gleaming and shining with frosty and glittery light? will the snowflakes be fluttering softly with their own sort of cold sort of glow? oh, will it be snowing tomorrow? tomorrow...will there be snow?

labor of love

2006-12-23T14:55:00.000-06:00

as my sis would say... some things i've been making this week before christmas...all for unsuspecting & dear pals. i hope they will enjoy these as much as i've enjoyed creating them!

gratitude

2006-12-23T14:21:00.000-06:00

since entering the blogosphere, i have "met" & befriended so many amazing & talented gals...my heart is filled with gratitude & joy...thank you all for coming into my life...not a moment goes by that i don't think of you & wish you well... i feel blessed to have crossed paths with you all! in the mail earlier this week i received lovely christmas prezzies from my dear blog sister, jude, a lovely santa card from another dear blog sista, nance... just look at the incredibly charming handmade lovelies from jude!!! & a wonderful care package from a dear blog pal, raesha...which i've already used some of that lovely vintage music sheet! i've also received lovely christmas greetings from other blog pals, which i haven't captured on film bec. of my digicam sitch (uploading problems)... but i wanted to acknowledge that i have received them & that i am touched to be remembered by you. thank you my dear friends...i wish you all the happiest of christmas & brightest of new years! love & hugs to you all, mary ann xoxo

{open}

2006-12-22T19:07:00.000-06:00

is the theme for this week's wednesday stamper...& i thought i'd submit this atc that i labored over today...lots of stamping, cutting, piecing & gluing! i had to make a ton of these atcs, as well as other sets (see posts that follow below to follow what i mean) for a local swap i'm in... the background paper is actually wrapping paper from old navy & the stamped image is from red lead...a lot of work, but i'm happy with how it turned out... it's been a wicked long day...i think i will take a much needed rest now...have a great friday evening!

"make-up" atcs

2006-12-22T18:59:00.000-06:00

that i had to make since i forgot to do an extra set for last month's atc group that i'm in here in town...i decided to use up these pink velvet letters, scraps of paper, buttons & glitter ric rac... i'm just so glad these are outta my hair...amen!