Freckled Star

Olde Soul..........

For the last week I have been working on a project called "Olde Soul".......

And I swear I feel like a very olde soul right now so it was appropriate!

This was a class taught by the sooooo talented JoAnna Pierotti of Moss Hill Studio......

It was taught in June and as I mentioned before June sucked and I missed it........

But JoAnna was kind enough to put my kit together and give me access to her online Face Painting and Fairy Doll classes for free to help be able to complete her......

There is the kit. A little daunting isn't it?? Trust me it sat there a good two weeks taunting me lol....

Til I finally just said the hell with it and watched the Face Painting class online. I can't recommend the Face Painting class enough it was awesome. So many great techniques and I was able to go from a completely blank slate to this..........

Flowers and all!! I also can't recommend Martha Stewart Paints enough!! I must have every color now:)

I don't think you realize how extremely difficult it was for me to get past painting this thing. I am so clumsy with a paint brush. I always hate my work usually repainting and starting over again. I had already told myself if it looks like crap I'll just paint the whole thing white:) But all in all I must say not bad.........

Anyhow there was oodles of other stuff to do. I tried getting on the Fairy class yesterday afternoon and couldn't. I did message JoAnna and she got back to me right away but I had already gone off on my own;) Going off the pictures of the sample and pictures my girls had sent me of theirs and well I just figured it out. I am an expert copier let's not forget lol!! Let's also not forget once I have started on something I just keep going til it's done and I was determined to get this done yesterday!!

I love her little boots!

Here's all of her......

Then last night I went to bed thinking something is missing............

So when I got up this morning........

She got a crown:)

Happy Wednesday!!

Rustique Birdcage

Over the weekend I got a much needed craft day!!

And friend day!!

There is a reason I didn't post all June and it was because it sucked!! We lost my husband's grandfather, our sweet little doggie, Sandy Cheeks, Frank hurt his back AGAIN, I missed 2 art classes, then a bunch of other misc. crap that just added up to yuckiness. I literally wanted to hide in my closet and have someone come get me when June was OVER!!

But things pass, you keep getting up and the days start to look brighter once again:)

And June is OVER thank God!

So after having girlfriend withdrawls for over a month. A month! Over a month!! Can you believe that??!! I finally got my fix;)

On Saturday Kim Caldwell of Artistic Bliss, who I am happy to call a friend, had a workshop with none other than my other happy to call a friend Denise Hahn of In My Blue Room. It was at Kim's house and as usual the decor was so pretty.........

Burlap and succulents. Oh yeah I'm in!!

She had the sweetest gifts for us.........

In the bag was the most beautiful birdcage and crystal necklace!

The kit Denise prepared for us was absolutely phenomenal........

I was so happy I almost cried lol:)

Absolutely everything was provided in our kit to create this gorgeous cage. All we needed was scissors and glue.

We made these flowers by hand!

Just when I thought I couldn't love glass glitter any more!!

It was a wonderful day! Awesome project, awesome food and awesome company. What more could a crafty girl ask for!!??

Here she is all done!

All pictures are from my Instagram:)

I love it!!

Denise has a great little video on her blog right now about our day. Short and sweet:)

As an aside I had a few people message me as soon as they saw it on my Facebook and said make me one!! I won't name names lol:)

What you don't understand is I can't make this again. Not like this anyway. The kit is very specific, the instructions and techniques are very specific to the teacher. And there is a reason she can buy 40 yards of fencing from Home Depot because she teaches the classes and can get rid of it lol!! Plus the fact you miss something by not just biting the bullet and taking the class. I guarantee you'd never be disappointed. But if you really can't take the classes, really do think we all bite or really think you could NEVER make anything like this, then try Etsy and look up handmade birdcages and you'll find hundreds.

But I really wish you'd take a class:)

Start slow and work your way up. Start local and branch out. Get a friend to try it with you. It really can be therapeutic. Plus the fact that you'll meet so many different ladies with the same passions as you!!

That's what I did years ago. Didn't know a single soul the first time I went to an Artisitc Bliss event. Not a SINGLE soul and I went to LA which was really out of my element. Had no idea what I was doing. Had no idea what mixed media was. I was just a lowly scrapbooker who knew she likes LOTS more stuff on her pages then eveyone else. Embellish!!

Now I've taken all kinds of classes from all kinds of teachers. Some good, some bad and some absolutely AMAZING!!

Take a chance and if you hate never do it again! That's my motto lol:)

But above all else be inspired and be inspiring!!

Have a wonderful week:)



 

Sail away........

Here is something fun..........

Ever heard of Heather Bullard?

She was one of the first blogs I stumbled across many moons ago and although I don't read quite as often as I used to I am always happy when I do:)

Anyway she puts out a seasonal magazine called Souvenir.

And this time around it's available for the iPad for $3.95!!

It's 167 pages of pure inspiration!!

You'll die when you tour Amy Hanna's house although I'll bet no one really lives there lol!! There is a great tutorial for a fresh lavender wreath I can't wait to try. Super cute, inexpensive gift ideas and a chicken salad recipe that I think will make an appearance at the Crown Bracelet Workshop:)

But what really caught my eye was on the first few pages where the staff posts some of their "favorite things" and these popped out at me IMMEDIATELY!!

Take a peek at WhiteFlower FarmHouse!!

Awesome website and a definite add to my favorites.

And wouldn't you know Frank had taken me driftwood hunting while we were up in Cayucos because I thought I'd make some of the driftwood crosses I keep seeing in boutiques and Peddler's Faires. That are $30-50 and literally cost nothing to make. I love good stuff and good ideas but sometimes it just doesn't make sense to buy it when I can do it:)

And have fun doing it!!

But those crosses took a back seat in a hot second when I saw those!!

So this morning I cleaned my driftwood and went through my fabric remnants.........

Then it was figuring out how to get these suckers put together:)

Which I asked Frank. And immediately regretted it! I thought oh just make a hole big enough to put the other piece in and a little wood glue and............

Viola!!

Right??

Wrong!!

He made me go to Home Depot and get dowels:(

But then he drilled and sanded and glued so I guess I can say it worked out after the 15 minutes of hell in Home Depot:)

And here they are finished:)

Super cute if you like beachy stuff:)

Not quite as easy as I thought to do and they have taken me 3 days to get done. Although I probably didn't need 6 lol!!

Well that's it from me for now........

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back next week with my Rustique Birdhouse Chandelier that I get to make tomorrow.

Can't wait!!!

P.S. I have an instagram!! If you'd like to follow me it's freckledstar. Easy peasy:)



 

 

 

A class is coming!!

Hi all!

Miss me??

One day I swear I will be on top of things.

Just not any day soon:)

It's been a crazy summer and it seems I can never catch up on anything and I have so much to do. So much I want to do and so much I dream about doing!!

It also seems I am coming up on my 500th post.

If you can believe that!!

I think that may call for a fabulous giveaway!!

It's also coming up on my renewal date for this little blog and I have to say there has been more than a few days now that I have thought about hanging it up.

So once Tyler goes back to school and I can get settled again in the Fall I am going to figure it out.

Maybe:)

In the meantime...........

A class is coming!!!!

Denise is coming to my home in August to teach this!!

Aren't they AWESOME!!??

I can't wait and by mid August I will be in dire need of some crafty inspiration and friends:)

Would love to have you over!

Sunday August 19th 10-4  

As a special little add on I will be doing a Make and Take with Close to My Heart products:)

Here's the link to join us

Hope to see you soon and have a wonderful rest of the summer:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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