pretty pink tiara

New post over at my other blog...

2010-01-22T20:31:00.001-06:00

www.brendabliss.com

please take a peek!

oh how I wish.....

2010-01-01T20:22:00.001-06:00

That I could take this course---

For those of you already making art and wanting to know how you take it to the next level and get yourself a regional or national audience, next week starts the super exciting Marketing Mindset. www.marketingmindset.ning.com. Check out the Main Page and take advantage of the Intro Price which will only last until January 8th.

But--I can't afford the class at this time--oh well--I can dream!

Visit me at my new blog....please...

2009-08-30T17:15:00.002-05:00

www.brendabliss.com/blog

winery visit...

2009-06-30T16:22:00.005-05:00

Here is Kris and Kenna at the winery....Fitzpatricks Winery! I am allergic to wine and so we did not drink any--we had the "plowman's lunch" which I had about 12 years ago... enjoyed it so much I had to go back!

coming to Sacramento....

2009-06-15T17:01:00.003-05:00

Makena and I will be going to visit my Dad and StepMom in late June. We will be in the Sacramento area so if any of my art friends want to get together and do something artsy--please don't be shy--I love my art friends and am always open to meeting up....I put up the rooster cause one of my favorite things to do is hang out in the park in Fair Oaks and take pictures of the chickens--they just roam around the town and are so friendly!!!!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:12:00.001-05:00

Makena and I did some "tie"dyeing yesterday--you cut up old silk ties and wrap the eggs, then wrap them in muslin and then boil them for 25 minutes--I can't wait to collect more ties for next year--yard sales and estate sales--here I come!!

What If....................

2009-04-11T18:05:00.004-05:00

What if I didn't chase my dream? Would I regret it for the rest of my life?? Probably..so..............I have officially followed my dream and have created Bliss Bootcamp! Retreats for the creative soul. Our first retreat is June 12-15th just outside of Nashville with Cindy Forrester as our featured Art Teacher! Please go to the website and check it out, and hopefully you will join us....

Happy Birthday to my best friend in the world!!!!!

2008-12-02T16:02:00.003-06:00

I wish with all of my heart that I could be with Kris on her 50th birthday..........she was so wonderful to me on and around mine--and here I sit 2,000 miles away-------
I miss being able to just have coffee with her, and shop and do all the fun girlie things that we like to do-
Happy 50 Kris! Love You!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T19:05:00.002-06:00

Well, my table decorating is done--and I am oh-so-happy! I have a cold--so I feel kinda yucky-so hubby will be the head chef tomorrow--and he's making a homemade hummingbird cake--yumalicious!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope this posts finds you all well and happy, surrounded with loved ones and friends.............hugs

give me a hand?

2008-11-25T22:14:00.003-06:00

just kidding--I LOVE gloves and made this a while ago.....there is a vase down inside so you can put your favorite fresh flowers in it-------
I have a few of these--maybe I will put them in my etsy store......
Hugs to all and Happy Thanksgiving!

The end of our trip

2008-11-02T10:17:00.002-06:00

Wow! What an adventure. This is my best friend Kris--who you have met before--
We went to Art and Soul in Portland,Oregon and had a blast. Kris is new at art and retreats--but she had a wonderful time! This is us at the airport--we are both 50 this year and both of our numbers on the Southwest boarding passes were A50.............how strange is that?

Cordillia

2008-09-27T20:24:00.004-05:00

Bernie and I met on Friday and went to the TACA art show at Centennial Park in downtown Nashville. The weather was perfect-the artists were incredible ---but bestof all was Cordillia---the little 4 month old baby that Bernie brought along. Recently Bernie helped close down a local puppy mil--they removed over 700 dogs from one place--and this cutie was among them.

sneak peak...

2008-09-22T11:25:00.002-05:00

Goddess Diana-one of my closest friends in this world, has been studying to be a Mom---Goddess does not do anything until she has studied and practiced and has got it "right".

Goddess and Noah (her hubby) are ready.............they are in the "time for a baby or babies" groove. Soooooooo it is time that I send the necklace that I have been designing and infusing with Love and Light, Peace and Healing and FERTILITY ! This piece was created especially for Goddess Diana and I have held on to it till the time was right---NOW!!! The time is right! So I shall mail it off and after she has received it I will post a picture of Goddess in her "Fertility Art"!
Love you guys, and have fun on this adventure!

trades for Portland

2008-09-15T09:42:00.002-05:00

I have been a busy girl creating my trades for Art and Soul, Portland! I am taking 2 classes.....Soldering for Virgins with Sally Jean and Junk Drawer Metalsmithing with Stephanie Lee! My best friend Kris will be meeting me there--I just know we will have a blast!

faux batik

2008-09-12T15:35:00.002-05:00

I'm in a swap with 119 other artists on techniques........this is a sample of my faux batik with a little "bliss" glitter thrown in.......can't wait to get my book back!

Happy Birthday Pattie!

2008-09-07T17:05:00.003-05:00

My friend Pattie had a birthday this past week...A heart with wings is kinda her trademark...so I thought I would make her a necklace......
She is a fun. loving, hugely talented lady --and I hope that she has an incredible year!

just a lil baubble....

2008-08-17T19:45:00.002-05:00

I fell in love with these pearls at the last bead show so I just had to create a piece with them. The pearls are mixed with jadeite and some crystals and one lovely vintage crystal--
Hopefully this will move over to my etsy site soon --Yep--I have one and am planning on finally putting some of my artwork up for sale over there...
please stay tuned...

the rest...

2008-08-13T22:03:00.001-05:00

here is the soldered necklace that Cindy sent along with my picture................is this not tooooo cute for words....

i am so blessed...........

2008-08-05T14:51:00.004-05:00

when i was in california at the art show with JoAnnA..I met Cindy DeLuz.................just a quick meeting mind you--and i was so overwhelmed being there with JoAnnA that my senior-type brain didn't recall that this was THE Cindy that had the awesome art that I needed in my life with all my heart! She left-i looked down at the table and her card was just looking up at me saying----"Yep, that was THE Cindy......"
soooooooo.when i got home that evening i wrote her an email--
i want a piece of your art, here's a few things about me...please take a look at my blog, .........blah, blah, blah
now i know that my mother in law gives me a check every birthday--so i thought bingo!...i'll use that to buy a picture--just for me--
and what i got was so far beyond what i had hoped for--

and with my huge picture (36x24) came an extra package--with a card--that had part of my flowers on it...which is shown above..cause i can't figure out how to have it down here :{
and she made me the cutest magnet with the picture on it--
AND

a necklace with my picture on it--and the flowers on the other side--
IS THIS NOT INCREDIBLE????
ok ---so run over to Cindy's site ..
www.apurpledaisy.com
and look at all of her HAPPY stuff!

it's official......

2008-07-18T23:36:00.002-05:00

i'm "nifty fifty"...................it was a wonderful day--spent with Kenna, Kris, Dad and Esther--Alan, Jason and Goddess Diana called with birthday wishes--Thank you All......and Thank you for all the birthday greetings through the world wide web..............
tomorrow we fly home...........................i'm ready.

cheers...........

2008-07-14T22:35:00.003-05:00

yummy...........malibu rum, pineapple juice and a splash of grenadine---
we are having dinner in the room this evening--the butler will be bringing it in soon...:)

what a fun way to spend time with my best friend!

we drove around the lake today and had a wonderful lunch on a deck on Lake Tahoe........

my best friend and i.......

2008-07-14T11:53:00.002-05:00

are in Lake Tahoe-------------------------------------------
celebrating my 50th Birthday which is Friday! And she and her hubby frequent this place (as in gamble) and she is treated like royalty--and so am I!!! we have a 2 bedroom suite with a fireplace and Butlers!!!!!!!!

Here is Kris and I toasting our trip..........
all i can say is "This is Heavenly !!!!"

and the other pic is a greeting from the hotel wishing me a Happy Birthday!!!!!

oh what fun!!!!!!!!!!

2008-07-12T00:00:00.003-05:00

i just got home from the art and wine show!!! it was so fun!!!! JoAnnA is sooooo sweet and so talented .......
here is a picture of JoAnnA and me....in front of her art space...the weather was perfect..great music...it was just awesome!!!!

JoAnnA gave me the most wonderful piece of art--well really 2 pieces--and i forgot to ask her if i could share here- but i will ask her and hopefully post pics here soon....life is great!!!

healing love......

2008-07-11T12:08:00.009-05:00

this is a necklace that i created....the bottle is there to hold essential oil....today's choice is peppermint. we are covered in smoke here in Northern California and i am sending out healing love to everyone touched in any way by the fires.....so scary and so devastating

i am heading up to see JoAnnA from http://www.mosshill.blogs.com/
tonight at an Art and Wine show in Amador City! i am super excited to meet her and see her art! Hopefully we will be able to get together again and do art together this next week!!!!

we are family.................

2008-07-10T21:22:00.002-05:00

Dad took us to lunch today at Scott's fish...and it was wonderful. Two of my cousins met us for lunch...my cousin Cheryl is in the black shirt , next to her is Makena, Esther, cousin Cathy and me---sitting down. I hadn't seen Cheryl in probably 15 years and Cathy in about 10 years......Family is so important to me and this made my heart feel so awesome!!!!!!

this is Beth..

2008-07-06T22:30:00.001-05:00

she's my new sister/friend.....Esther's sister-we had fun having coffee and shopping for fruits and veggies...

oh...........

2008-07-06T22:28:00.000-05:00

the onions.......................

the farmers market........

2008-07-06T22:26:00.001-05:00

I went to the farmers market today in Sacramento..........I just love the smells and the colors and all of the people......

for Esther.....

2008-06-26T21:31:00.002-05:00

Kenna and I are heading west on july 1st............we will be in Sacramento for 3 weeks! I am really excited to see my Dad, stepmom and my Best Friend Kris!!!!
i made this necklace for my stepmom, Esther. It is an amethyst point with fresh water pearls, and vintage crystals. Amethyst is a very healing crystal and no one can ever have too much healing. I sure hope she loves it.
I am really looking forward to my trip...I get to meet JoAnnA...an incredible artist whose blog i have been following for a very long time....i sure hope we can take a moment to create together!

wait..one more

2008-06-22T19:25:00.002-05:00

this one has an old beaded glove on the front--a great place to hold pens and maybe a glue stick--it is chock full of papers that i have made and collected.........
i really love these.....making them is really making my heart sing...as i add each old piece of lace or doily i think about and bless each previous owner and wonder what their life was like and how it fit in....

and i made this one

2008-06-22T19:20:00.002-05:00

it has a store bought journal in it.............

it's called ........ i hope you dance..

i have been busy

2008-06-22T19:10:00.005-05:00

creating! and it feels sooooo good-
I decided that i needed to use some of my old laces and other goods that i have been collecting.....
so i made this journal cover that can hold a spiral notebook..

my guilty pleasure......

2008-05-06T20:46:00.003-05:00

Our last catalyst for "Creative Therapy" group was--Our guilty pleasure...

My most guilty pleasure is shopping! I LOVE to shop! Shopping makes me Happy! I don’t need anything. And I know that, yet I still find myself out and about …in the stores,at estate sales.the farmers market. My husband says I’m gonna nickel and dime out family right into the poor house……….but that won’t happen because I have enough “stuff” I can sell if I need to. We have a teenage daughter that has caught my disease-so now there are two of us! Besides spending too much money, my husband really hates to drive my car……my license plate reads “LVSHOPN”!

she is gone....

2008-05-02T08:01:00.002-05:00

Here is a picture of a doll that I did for a challenge that Belinda sent out--she sent us a 2x2 canvas and we were to art it up and send it back--I think she was sending them in for a submission, but have never heard a word back--kinda wish I would have kept her--she's got the key to Bliss in her hand--

crown swap

2008-04-20T17:12:00.002-05:00

I hosted a crown swap for one of the yahoo groups I 'm in--just wanted to share mine--It is in the mail to a friend way north!

2nd catalyst for Creative Therapy=something from my childhood

2008-04-08T21:57:00.002-05:00

My Papa-I loved him so–he always worked in a hardware store and I loved to go visit him there. It’s probably why I love hardware stores and tools so much today. He used to take me to the ice cream store and sit me up on the counter and and fill a little white bag with candy-yum. Our favorite flavor was chocolate shower…..He always hung out in his garage just fiddlin around–and listened to country music. Funny after growing up in Sacramento, CA and listening to country music I would be living in Nashville,TN!

I used one of his old watches and his picture standing in front of his garage as the center piece and put some hardware pieces inside of the watch. The dangle has a fishing lure piece, cause he LOVED to fish and a blue fabric bead-as blue was the color of his eyes. I called him Papa,so I made the metal tag, and there is an old key—-He was always cutting keys at the store…my wire wrapping is a bit rugged this time because I wanted the hardware/wire to really stand out..

I wanted to share...

2008-04-07T23:37:00.003-05:00

This is a birdhouse by my driveway and a beautiful cherry tree that is in full bloom..........
There are so many other flowering plants in my yard--
I just love all of the colors--and the pollen--

catch up?

2008-04-06T22:26:00.009-05:00

Never! It's been way too long--but I have no excuses--
so
we begin again!
I am proud to be part of the "Creative Therapy" team that Karen put together. We are a group of artists that are given catalysts every week and are to create art with the weekly catalyst! In the theme of catching up=I will show you the first one I did--and give you the link to the site-
http://creativetherapy.wordpress.com/
the catalyst was" where do you go to find your center?"

This is definitely where I go to find my center. Two fold….The Beach and The Ocean… What a wonderful place! Home of some of the most beautiful creatures that ever lived. Dolphins, seahorses, starfish… Every color of the rainbow is found in these waters. And salt water-ahhhhhhhh…..so healing….and waves..crashing waves, mesmerizing, calming, peace-filled. The smell………………..YES! The smell………….. Seashells…I love to collect seashells. Often I go to this place in my mind to fill up on energy and peace, as I am landlocked in Tennessee. When I lived in Southern California a stroll on the beach was a joy and easy to accomplish. Now, once in a while we are able to physically go to “the beach” and it recharges my spirit.

I made this necklace to remind me of the bliss that the beach brings to me, with abalone, coral, a dolphin, a starfish…The turquoise stones represent some of the beautiful turquoise waters that I have witnessed ..in Florida, Hawaii. Mexico…..off to the beach in my mind….

my charms got there.......

2008-02-02T13:41:00.000-06:00

doin' the happy dance (yeah, sure) over here! my charms just got to kecia today-that was over 1 week-priority........ugh! i was sweatin' bullets. but, i was emailing a friend this morning and i told her that even if my charms never made it and went to charm heaven that these charms helped with my healing. i got back to creating, and it felt good....
creating is good.

my charms are lost....

2008-01-31T07:33:00.000-06:00

i'm in the valentine charm swap that kecia is hosting and she just emailed me last night that my charms have not reached her---hubby mailed them priority a week ago-please Universe-deliver them to kecia today--52 charms took a bit of work and i was really looking forward to recieving this bag of goodies........

please help bernie........

2008-01-28T22:00:00.001-06:00

My friend bernie berlin is in the contest of her life.
she runs an animal rescue here in tennessee..
and if you can possibly donate just $10
it will help her and her furry friends win-

please visit her blog http://aplacetobark.blogspot.com
alot of artists have donated goodies to give away
and it's a wonderful place to follow her story...
the angels are with you bernie...

the buck starts here...

2008-01-28T21:17:00.001-06:00

my good, talented friend Pattie has a new blog called "the buck starts here"..she has been shopping at the dollar store and found some cool items to art up! she made an awesome work of art out of a dollar note book--and challenged her readers to do the same--so here is my dollar notebook--i got mine at michaels-they have a great dollar section too. thanks Pattie-what's next?

a snails pace...

2008-01-27T22:56:00.000-06:00

my healing is progressing...but i feel like it is going sooooooooo slow. i got my cute pink cast off and now have a "moonboot" i can take it off to shower-ahhhhhhhh! and to start moving it, but it doesn't move very much -still can't walk on it or drive-but there is light at the end of the tunnel!. i had a very creative day today, and it felt awesome. i am sending in my proposals to teach at an art retreat and needed to make samples and then i tried to write a bio and class descriptions.which did not come as easily as the art! .i called my dear friend goddess diana and she helped get me going in the right direction...thank you friend!

heart journal swap

2008-01-26T20:31:00.001-06:00

i signed up to do the heart journal swap with belinda--my page did not turn out at all like i planned --it just kind of took on a life of it's own...........i guess i needed some happy art in my life! and i think i accomplished that- she is sending the pages to cloth, paper, scissors...so we shall see what happens

i'm borrowing this...

2008-01-22T11:54:00.000-06:00

my dad has suffered from some heart problems the last few years-last summer when we were visiting him he had open heart surgery...he is doing so much better-although his heart is aching today as his sister-my auntie pat- passed over last night. she was a wonderful, giving, loving, strong woman and she will be very missed by many......

i made this piece "take time to heal" for my dad when he was recovering and now i am going to post it today to remind him, myself and others that we must take time to heal...

love and light...auntie pat--we love you

well, here i am...

2008-01-21T19:43:00.000-06:00

well, here i am.....
my first post. i have other blogs but have never added a post.
the first post must be the hardest, right?
so i put on my pretty pink tiara and here i sit- typing away.
amazing what confidence my pretty pink tiara brings to me--

i have so much to say--so much to share-so much to learn....

the first thing i'm gonna share is this lovely pink cast, with my lovely pink, glittery toes. for those of you who don't know, i fell down our stairs on dec.27th....resulting in an ambulance ride and surgery the following day. i broke my ankle in 3 places and am the proud owner of plates, rods, screws and pain. i can't walk or drive for at least 3 more weeks-which has been very difficult for me. i am in a wheelchair and walker...and am learning so much.
ok
this is getting easier!