Look it's Woody!

Finally I can share this photo of my other son in his costume. He's a huge Pixar fan, so he asked me to help him assemble a Woody costume. He was going to a Toy Story 1,2 & 3 marathon over the weekend, and wanting to surprise the host by showing up in full costume, he asked me not to post any photos until the marathon was over.

His costume had all the necessary parts, yellow plaid shirt, red bandanna, cowboy hat, jeans and cowboy boots. But it also had a few extras such as the sheriff star badge, a pull string (think: "Reach for the stars!), Andy's name on the bottom of one of his boots and even a snake in his boot.

I think he looks pretty smashing, don't you? "Mrs. Incredible" was obviously impressed.

The Scream

My son wanted to attend his university costume party as Edvard Munch's The Scream (and fully expected me to create the costume for him.

Naturally, I went to one of my favorite dollar stores ~ Everything for a Dollar Store and purchased a sheet of Styrofoam-ish stuff. Using Munch's painting as a guide, I cut a hole in the appropriate spot and commenced painting my version of the painting with the cheapest of my acrylic paints.

I think The Scream was frightened by these paintings!

Cost of Costume: $1.05 including tax

Fun Factor: Priceless

Art how I've missed you!

If you follow my blog, you've likely noticed things have been a little quiet around here lately. Since July I have been having some health issues (and a car collision ~ wasn't our fault ~ that's another story) which has hampered my day-to-day activities. Without going into all the boring details, suffice it to say that everything from washing dishes to painting my chairs has been put on the back burner. You should see how messy my back burner is!

My latest problem is an infection from a tiny cut that was on my right hand's middle finger. I'm right handed, so this is especially frustrating me because I've been trying to finish a fine art chair. I'm so close too ~ only the back panel of the chair is incomplete. The good news is that my finger, after intravenous antibiotic treatments seems to be finally clearing up. I'm just itching to get back to my art. Art how I've missed you!

Tag, I'm it!

Karyn and Arlene both tagged me with some fun questions which I will try to answer...

Here are Karyn's questions:

1. What was your most embarrassing moment?

When I was going out with Greg, we were visiting his parents. I went for a nap and when I got up I walked up from behind Greg who was sitting at the kitchen table. Still groggy, I gave him a tender hug from behind. When he turned to look at me, I was astonished to see that I was about to plant a kiss on the lips of Greg's sister's boyfriend!

2. Do you recycle? Why or why not?

Absolutely, and have done it for years and years. I believe there is way too much waste in this world and also I feel it's our responsibility to look after what we've been given to care for.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you've ever done?

Had children :)

4. What is your favorite movie and why?

Groundhog Day. This movie isn't just a silly comedy that some think it is. It has a lot of rather serious themes. I have a lot of other movies that I like a lot, but this one always stands out some how.

5. Do you follow a sport on TV?

Hockey ~ I had older brothers who indoctrinated me at a very young age. I don't watch all the games, but if the Edmonton Oilers are playing, I'm interested.

6. If you could live at any time in history for 1 year, when would it be?

A whole year is a long time ... hmm ... part of me would want to visit the 1800s, but another part of me would love to just go back to the 1960s or '70s with what I know now.

7. What was/is your favorite school subject?

ART! (I also enjoyed English in high school)

8. What game do you most enjoy playing with a group?

"Things" is a great game. The game is much, much better than its dull name suggests. If you get a chance, try it out ~ lots of fun and you learn a lot about people.

Here are Arlene's questions:

1) What is the nicest thing someone has done for you in the past week?

My husband took me to the Olive Garden for dinner ~ one of my favourite eateries.

2) Have you ever made a "mix tape" for a boy who broke your heart?

No, I do not recall doing this.

3) Where is your favorite place on the planet, where you feel most at rest?

In the mountains!

4) Do you get up and dance at weddings, or sit out the congo line?

Sit and visit.

5) Did you write your own wedding vows?

No, but I really wish we had.

6) How did you meet the love of your life?

We have two versions of this story. I say we met when we went with a group of friends to a restaurant.

7) Which would you choose, a road trip or to fly away to an exotic land?

Now that all depends on where the road trip would be to, and whether it could be taken at a slow, enjoyable pace. I would likely choose the road trip.

8) What local business do you like to support?

Mandolin Books and Coffee Company.

Weekend!

Graphic courtesy of:

Free Pretty Little Things for You

It's about my blog ...

I've been blogging since March 2005, and my blog has changed several times since the beginning including: the banner, the layout, the background etc. Some elements have stayed constant. My blog has always displayed a combination of my art and my life [I even started another site called Art and Life to showcase the ART part of my life].

From the very start, I've featured some of my favourite blog destinations under the heading of Beautiful Blogs. Then, when I discovered some quirky sites that were just way too much fun to ignore, I started the Oddites & Wonderfullies category where you can find sites such as this and this. As the title suggests, some sites are odd and some are just plain wonderful.

After blogging a while longer, I realized that I was very taken with British blogs which I categorized as Jolly Good UK Sites which features sites such as this. There are other parts to my blog that I could talk about, but I will just mention one more. Recently while perusing the Oddities and Wonderfullies section, I noticed that I had quite a few green, frugal sites included. And since I always strive to be green and frugal in both my artwork and life ~ today I'm a launching a brand new category entitled Green Frugalicious Sites. Please take the time to investigate some of these gems and as always if you have any comments, I would love to hear from you.

Vintage Hang Ups

Here's my contribution to The French Cupboard's Paperie Party...

I created a whole suitcase-full of these Vintage Hang Ups originally for a Street Festival this summer. Sadly we were rained out that day, but these make delightful last minute gifts. My friend who is a framer gave me a bunch of matt board scraps which I used as the base. Then, I found various vintage images (some are old family photos) to incorporate into the design. A little ribbons, lace, buttons and bows completed the assemblage. So much fun to create!

Simplify ...

It is the brainchild of my 19 old son ...

a Facebook group called

Don't-Buy-Junk-You-Don't-Need-Or-Receive-Useless-Junk-Christmas

He writes:
Okay, I had this idea. I think that Christmas has become excessively materialistic. But, what if we don't buy any presents this year? What if all our gifts are homemade and second hand? What if the only gifts we will receive are homemade? Let's not buy anything more than usual this Christmas, and see it as a holiday to spend time with family.

I have hand-crafted some Christmas gifts for many years.

This year, however, I am going to try to exclusively participate in the
Don't-Buy-Junk-You-Don't-Need-Or-Receive-Useless-Junk-Christmas

by creating handmade gifts and buying from garage sales, ReUse Centre and 2nd hand stores.

I will make one exception shopping in the ethnic food aisle of my grocery store
to find a few goodies for the ever-hungry college students on my list!

So I will simplify ~ use my creative DIM (Do it Myself) skills and
save a few bucks at the same time.
This should be fun!

Summer Fun 2010

Here's a look at what I've been enjoying this summer:
Nature ...
Art ...
Friends...
Family ...






















































"And summer's lease hath all too short a date."

Crumpled News: Blog Interview 2010-2

On a recent trip to Wells Gray Country in Clearwater, British Columbia, I had the pleasure of visiting an old friend from high school, Marnie Peters, and staying at her Bed and Breakfast which she runs with her husband, Al. And today I am interviewing her...

Thank you Marnie for letting me interview you. I know you just started blogging in May of this year. You're a real newbie blogger! Why did you decide to start blogging? I have always been curious about blogging but didn't know much about it until you came for a visit earlier this year; showed me what its all about and well I guess you could say... I'm hooked, Yup! definitely hooked!

What is the name of your blog? As you know we had so much fun writing down ideas but thanks to your creative sparkle [and some serious brainstorming], "Crumpled News" was born.

What date did you blog for the very first time? My very first post was May 15, 2010. I introduced my hubby Al of 25 years. I wasn't too sure what my blog would look like all I new is that I wanted it to be a place where women can come to be encouraged.

Did you design your blog or did you have it professionally done? I have to thank all those who are so creative and generous with there free sites to help the newbies like me. They make it easy to put together.

What does your "About Me" read on your blog? I am a mother of three 24, 22 and 18. I have been happily married for 25 yrs. to a wonderful man who has been there supporting me as I go through ups and downs of a medical misfortune of being paralyzed. But I had Faith in a Big God and He delivered in a big way! I praise my Lord for what He has done and what He is going to do! I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 I am walking though not perfect......I think perfect is highly over rated anyway! This blog is my way of encouraging all those who are struggling with something like I have had to over come through the grace of God. I pray God richly Blesses all who visit my site.

What themes would best describe your blog? Inspirational, comfort, encouraging, believe!

Anything else you would like to say? I want to thank all who have already visited my site and would like to invite those of you who haven't yet stop by for a visit to do so, and if you can't quite decide on where to go on your next vacation, why not Check out Wells Gray Park! Its a must! We would love to have you as our guest at Wyndhaven Cottage Bed and Breakfast.
Visit Crumpled News and tell Marnie you read this interview!

NOTE: I personally highly recommend staying at Wyndhaven Cottage Bed & Breakfast. The rooms are clean and cozy and the Peters Family is accommodating and friendly.

Thinking about ... Dandelions

What child at some point doesn't proudly produce a bouquet of dandelions to someone they love?
Like childhood's innocence itself, however, the fondness of this bright wonder is left behind when we grow up and become adults. Suddenly this once loved flower becomes Enemy Number One. While children see the beauty, adults busy themselves ridding their lawns and gardens of them. They don't want these "noxious" weeds messing with their perfectly manicured lawns.
But why do folks hate these beauties when we can make all sorts of things with them ~ salads, soups, dandelion wine, cookies and more. Look at all the things you can make with dandelions. Then there are the apparent health benefits of these common flowers as well.

And did I mention cookies...?

Dandelion Flower Cookies
(from www.5orangepotatoes.com)
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup dry oatmeal
1/2 cup dandelion florets**

**Tips for Removing Florets:

For this recipe you need to remove the florets from their base. Hold the florets with one hand and pinch the green flower base very hard with the other, give a little twist and that should do it.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Blend oil and honey and beat in the two eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, oatmeal and dandelion florets. Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool and eat. Yum and so easy to make!

Next time you see cheery dandelions appear ~ before you grab your weed killer ~ consider the many good things that the lowly dandelion can be used for.

Homemade's simply better!

Reading my good friend, Arlene's blog, Artdeme the other day,
I was inspired to give her pizza recipe a try.


Her recipe isn't just a list of ingredients with clinical preparation procedures. Arlene talks to you in terms such as "two or three good glugs of olive oil" and "[The dough] shouldn't be like sludge from the black lagoon, hanging between your fingers" which makes the whole exercise a lot more fun.

Notice, at first my dough was a tad gooey ... I had to add a little more flour,
and then shape the pizzas into pans.


Arlene suggested several topping ingredients. My pizza had shredded pepperoni, (onions, garlic, red and orange peppers which I sautéd), corn, crushed pineapple, fresh spinach, feta cheese, aged and extra aged cheddar cheese over a herbed tomato sauce.


Cooking this yumminess takes a mere 20 minutes...


The recipe is good for one large and two individual pizzas ...


Scrumptiousness which simply cannot be outdone by buying $50 worth at a take out joint
or worse yet, a frozen one from the supermarket!

Check out Artdeme and try Arlene's pizza for yourself. It is surprisingly simple to make and worth every minute it takes to prepare.
Your family will love you for it.

Sneak Peek

I'm painting a new chair ~ yay!
It features an entirely new theme.
Here's a sneak peek ... wanna take a guess what the theme might be this time round?