Can One Implode From Eating Too Much?

I hope everyone is still enjoying a terrific Holiday Season!  Still eating lots, still watching movies, playing games with the kids, and maybe even doing more shopping!  I have been doing it all...mostly the eating!  I've watched more movies in the last week than I did throughout the whole year!  Honestly, I'm feeling almost like a bum.  I have started a few sewing projects, however, just to get me off the couch...and away from the pie for awhile!  I'll post some photos when they are done.  In the meantime, today is Wednesday and that means it is time for a few Wonderisms! 

1. Is there an age restriction or limit for wearing glittery make-up?  Some of the beauty books advise "women of a certain age" (which means 38+) not to wear frosted eyeshadow or lipstick/lipgloss.  Yet, I've seen photos of older ladies in magazines clearly sporting white frosted eyeshadow. Hmm...do you have to listen to your kids if they tell you they don't think their mom should wear "sparkles" lipgloss?  I think not.
2. How is it that 10 people can be in your home and 9 of them are cat lovers, yet the house cat becomes fixated with the 1 person that clearly does not like cats?  The cat will rub against the legs of that one cat hater.  She will meow at that one person and even sit right next to her when the feline will never get close to any of the other 9?  Does that cat know of the hater and decide she will attempt to convert the one into a cat lover?  Or, is she just trying to annoy the hell out of the hater just because she can...'cause she is a cat?  Yeah, I think so.

What are you wondering about today?  If you want to play along, link up so I can pop over to your blog and read your questions!

Check out Craftaholics Anonymous' Best of 2010 Posts!  I've linked one of my tutorials and there are tons more!

Toodles for now!

Angela

Dress Up 2011...The Details

January

For everyone wishing to participate in Dress Up 2011, here are the deets:

1. Dresses are "due" before the last two days of the challenge month. 
2. I will be using the Mr. Linky tool.  When you are ready to show off your design, leave your name and people will be magically transported to your blog for viewing. 
3. If you want to participate, but don't have a blog, email me and let me know.  We can still make your dresses available to show.
4. Each dress will be "themed" around an artist or artistic movement.  I will announce the artist or movement for the next month sometime in the last two weeks of the previous month.
5. Dresses can be made from any material(s) and can be any size you prefer. There are NO rules here, but for those interested in a "template" for a dress, there are a few examples at the end of this post.
6. That's it.  I really want to stress that there are no rules...anything goes!  

For January's Dress, the theme is...Impressionism

Impressionism, French Impressionnisme, developed mostly in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Impressionist painting comprises the work produced between about 1867 and 1886 by a group of artists who shared a set of related approaches and techniques. The impressionist style of painting is characterized mostly on the general impression produced by a scene or object and the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light. 

The principal Impressionist painters were  Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Morisot, Guillamin, and Bazille.  Degas and Cezanne also painted in an Impressionist style for a time in the early 1870s.  Edouard Manet adopted the Impressionist approach about 1873.

Some examples:

Woman In Black At The Opera
Mary Cassatt

Poppies, Near Argenteuil
Claude Monet

Two Dancers Entering the Stage
Edgar Degas

Pick an Impressionist or design your dress based on the Movement!  For those interested in a template, click here for an art doll template.  Or check out coloring book pages for basic dress shapes.

The Enchanted Gallery

I can't wait to see January's Dresses!

Toodles,

Angela

Wednesday Wonderisms...

The crazy time is almost over...I know, the Holidays are a wonderful time of year, but, honestly, I am ready for this season to be over.  I sound like a Scrooge, I know..it's just crazy busy.  Anyway, here is my one Wonderism this week:

Why is there Braille signage posted at drive up ATMs? 

Look Over There!  I made it to 100 Woo Hoo!

I am so excited about the response to the 2011 Dress Up Challenge!  I plan to post more detailed information soon, as well as a dress template for those interested in using one.  Although there are no rules about size, etc., some may want a "pre-drawn" dress to use as a starting point for their design, however no one has to use a template. 

To all celebrating Christmas, have a Merry one.

Toodles,

Angela

Hot Potato Winner!

The Hot Potato Valori Wells Wallet Pattern Winner is...insert another drum roll here...

Sammy from The English Country Garden in Bags!  Congratulations!  I know you'll love the pattern and I can't wait to see your creations!

Speaking of creations.  Have a look at this pillow I made this past weekend.  The photo is of my mother-in-law when she was a little girl.  Doesn't she look sassy?  I hope she likes her gift.

I really had a lot of fun making this gift.  I made the fabric flowers in the corner, which were actually the most difficult part of this project.  What do you think?

I hope everyone has a great week.  Congratulations again to Sammy!

Toodles,

Angela

On The 12th Day of Christmas...

My True Love Gave To Me:

12 Lords A Leaping
Robin Carr
Red Robin Lane

The last Day Of Christmas (12 Leaping Lords) is from Robin Carr of Red Robin Lane.  Isn't is great?  The middle section is actually raised and, to me, looks like a stamp.  It's really pretty.  I'm bummed that this is the last ATC for this Bliss Angels 12 Days of Christmas ATC Swap!  I want to thank Wendy for hosting this swap as well as all the artists who shared their awesome ATCs!  This has really been an amazing way to "meet" great artists!

Wendy also hosts the Blissfull ATC Swap every month.  So, if you are interested in participating in an ATC swap, pop over and check it out.  Every month is a different theme, chosen by Wendy.  December's theme is "Angels."  A few posts back, I showed you the ATC I received from Penny, but I didn't show you the ATC I sent her.  So, here it is:

"Angels"
Blissfull ATC Swap
December 2010

January's theme is Snow/White.  Hmm...the possibilities are endless!

I'm excited to announce....insert drumroll here...that I will be hosting the Dress Up Challenge beginning in January!  Margaret from Alice and Camilla began and graciously hosted this project throughout 2010.  I first became aware of this project through Anna at Frosted Petunias.  Her dresses inspired me to get involved.  It has been a wonderful monthly event where artists have created 12 gorgeous, and distinctly different, dresses made mostly of paper.  Margaret has decided to "retire" from hosting this challenge and she has approved me as new host.  I'm excited and a bit nervous about this!  I plan to start the Project in January and similar to the ATC swaps, have a monthly theme to each dress.  What do you think about an Art Within Art Theme?  Pick an artist, and design your dress around that style.  For example, if you were to pick VanGogh as the artist, design your dress around one of his peices, or Vincent himself.  Sound fun?  Let me know what you think.  Here is a "in progress" button for the Project.

By the way, Anna is hosting what looks to be a fun challenge beginning in January called The Artful Bag Challenge.  I plan to participate. How about a bag to match my dress each month!!!

Have a super weekend!  Stay warm!

Toodles,

Angela

On The Eleventh Day of Christmas...

My True Love Gave To Me:

11 Ladies Dancing
By Electra
Wishin I Knew How To Blog

Electra created 11 Ladies Dancing for the Bliss Angels 12 Days of Christmas ATC Swap.  I love the ruffles running vertically on the right as well as the beautiful ballerinas!  Electra is a fabulous artist.  You should check out her blog.  By the way, she definately knows how to blog!

Can you believe we are almost finished with the 12 Days?  One more to go....it's a great ATC, so please come back tomorrow for a look!  I will also be sharing details about a Paper Dresses Challenge that I will be hosting beginning in January!  (A continuation of Margaret's Challenge).  So, come back!

Until then, toodles!

Angela

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...

My True Love Gave to Me..

10 Pipers Piping
Dana
Sinderella-Studio

Ten Pipers Piping ATC comes from Dana of Sinderella-Studio.  I'm still amazed how all the Bliss Angels 12 Days of Christmas ATC artists are so distinctly unique from each other.  Everyone's interpretations of their respective Days are detailed and, it seems, so respectfully thought through.  I love each card I have received.  I truly mean that.

I know it's Wednesday and I am sure you are wondering "where are Wednesday Wonderisms?"  Instead of the wonders today, I wanted to show you a few photos of some gifts I'm working on.  I've been experimenting with some fabric markers and "crayons" I bought.  I've sketched and "painted" on small pieces of fabric I've used to create make up brush holders.  In the past, I've resisted "marking" on fabric out of fear of ruining it as well as my love of the fabric itself.  It is similar to my resistance to tear pages out of cheap books to use in mixed media projects.  You might remember my Discovering Myself Journal.  I couldn't bring myself to rip out book pages to use for that project.  Anyway, I've thrown caution to the wind and  started with the fabric painting..albeit small...very small!  It's been fun and I think I may go "all in" before long! 

What do you think?  I've only included a photo of the inside of the first roll up bag.  The last two are sewn with coordinating fabric.  Sidenote:  Snaps are not "a snap!"

Come back tomorrow for the 11th Day of Christmas! 

Never fear, Wednesday Wonderisms will be back next week!  To all who are participating today, please let me know so I can visit your spot and read your wonders!!

Toodles!

Angela