Nuggets in a Nutshell

Too busy to pay attention to my little blog!

In a nutshell -

• Work is overwhelming.
• Still cramming in crafting on my off hours.
• In February Manny was diagnosed with the Big C so we are now juggling trips to the Portland OHSU to prepare him for M-F chemo/radiation treatments.

Here are a few pictures of my recent life adventures.

Crafting!

Added a painted piece of driftwood to the front tree as a squirrel perch.

Visited with Jordan's rat Cecil.

Made tiramisu trifle.

Took my first ride on the OHSU tram.

Found this sweet, vintage $2 bunny at Goodwill that sells for $30 on Ebay (although he'll be staying with me!)

Happy 29th birthday Sammy on 2/17!

On a Bunny Kick!

Lately have been obsessed with bunnies!

Made a rust painted bunny using a Dollar Tree rabbit. Ended up gifting it to my co-worker's daughter and she loved it. 

 Bought two more DT bunnies and painted them rust as well. 

Grabbed an empty plastic bottle, covered it with foil and masking tape, then covered it with air dry clay. Once dry, painted it with acrylic paint mixed with baking soda. Created a nightgown out of old flour sack, added velvet ribbon, and it became the cutest thing ever!

Yesterday created a rabbit pattern, cut out some heavy muslin, then sewed and stuffed another bunny! Added pantaloons and socks from my craft bag along with the last of the velvet ribbon. Love it!!

My rust and fabric bunnies are now hanging out in the bathroom. 

Something bit me in the butt today and I ended up doing four loads of laundry, cleaned up the craft corner and office, performed industrial bathroom and shower cleaning, baked a batch of brownies, dusted all the glass tables in the living room, organized the dresser top, including hooking my earrings together on a small, mesh metal basket, sorted my clothes and gifted Candy two bags along with brownies to Jordan, then celebrated my accomplishments by taking a nice long shower! Phew!

Two More Days!

Two more days until twin Todd and I turn - dare I say it - 60! Yikes!! 

We were able to celebrate tonight at the local Fiesta Bonita as Todd was passing through from Seattle. We exchanged gifts then the servers came to sing Happy Birthday to me! What?? Todd planned it so I had to fill in to the singers that it was his birthday too!  If I had to wear the sombrero, he had to as well!!

Have received several cards and was surprised yesterday with a fabulous Harry & David box from sis Julie. It contained my favorite - pears - along with cheese, nuts, moose munch, and assorted other goodies. 

I treated myself to some pre-birthday items - new sneakers, a Laura Geller makeup kit (first time trying it and I love it), and a sweet little felt mouse from Etsy made in the Ukraine. And when I say small, I mean TINY!  I should have read the fine print closer as I expected a slightly larger creature rather than the 2-inch specimen that arrived.  

Here's what I expected:

Here's what arrived:

As always, aside from work I've busied myself with crafting.  And that's an understatement!  When something creative or imaginative comes into my mind, it won't stop until it's brought to fruition.

Found this gorgeous angel at Goodwill
and couldn't pass it up!

Apothecary jars made to hold pictures of my mom

Painted and stacked three teapots.

Air clay mouse.

Hanging shelf made using painted teapot lids.

Another small jar filled with yarn balls along with clay knitting needles and cat.

Added a knob and decoupaged a canister with diy watercolored scene from a vintage children's book.

Wizard of Oz clay figure collage.

Decorated altoid tins.

Picked up some second hand metal ornaments and used them to display birds I drew and watercolored with distress crayons.

Attached a bee gnome to a painted base and added an air dry clay honey dipper.

Dollar tree metal bird painted with a faux rust mixture (joint compound, sand, glue, and paint.)

Before

After

Used the distress crayons to watercolor a bird painting.

Decided to investigate tea bag paper. Steeped the bags, cooled, then dumped out the grounds, and voila - faux antique papers.

Created three clay birds - yes, I'm into birds.🐦 Decorated them using acrylic paint mixed with baking soda.

Another Wizard of Oz item.

My latest work in process is a rust painted Dollar Tree bunny. 

The recent highlight was we had snow! First about six inches arrived and hung around a few days before his partner in crime freezing rain arrived. Counted my blessings I work from home.

Whew! On top of all that I fit in watching Oppenheimer (excellent), Barbie (woman power), Nyad, and began watching the new season of True Detective with Jodie Foster. Just counting down the days until the Oscars arrive.

My hair has been driving me crazy!  Been letting the gray grow in blending with the blonde.  Lately, it seemed to be one big puff ball of white so I marched myself to my regular hair stylist Abbie to fix it. Got a trim and she added in mocha lowlights which looks tres chic. 

I may getting older but I'm fighting it every step of the way!! 

I think this is the new me!