Forgive Me For I Have Sinned

That is the name of my latest collage

Also this ATC I created for a swap.

The theme was "A label from your kitchen" using the old fashion mixed media technique :)

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of my East Coast friends
that are being hit by hurricane Irene.
My God keep you safe.

GOOD NEWS

For those of you who have been praying for my husband, he more or less has been cleared of any cancer other than his lymphoma/leukemia.

His prostate biopsy is negative. His bone marrow biopsy is negative, his renal doppler showed no cancer, blockages or obstruction in the kidneys. His urine is still showing high levels of protein but that is caused from his high blood pressure which this week is under control ! He saw his E.N.T. today and his sinuses are finally clear with no more infection. He still has to use the nebulizer once or twice a week but if that is what it takes to keep that infection away, have at it!

This has been a really long hard year for him but I think he is finally back on track and feeling better.

He went fishing last week and caught this 28 lb salmon, the first of many this season I am sure.

Thanks to all of you for your continued concern and prayers.

My oldest granddaughter, Melissa who lives in Las Vegas is getting married next Friday and I am leaving on Tuesday to spend a couple of days with her before the wedding. Of course I will also enjoy time with my son, David and his wife Lisa and Melissa's sister, my other granddaughter, Angela. It will be so nice to see them all and of course I am so excited to see Ava June, my great granddaughter. She is 10 months old already and I have not seen her since she was 5 weeks old!

So I will be gone all next week. See you when I get back and I will take many photos to share with you.
Have a wonderful week!

The finished product ....60 of them

Okay here are the note cards "Special Order" for Joanne DeGiacomo the Mother of one of the Sisters of Swing. I ended up making total 60 cards. 20 for each girl. My fingers were glued together and my eyes were crossed but they are all finished a posted in my Esty Shop for Joanne to purchase.

60 cards total all sorted and tied up with a lace ribbon

The Andrew Sisters

Sisters of Swing

THE SISTERS OF SWING

This tin was made for the Jazz Festival here in Coos Bay . It didn't sell but this week I got a message from a lady that wanted to order 4 of these tins. So I did the custom order for her and made 4 tins exactly the same. (I made them a little extra special since they were for The Sisters of Swing.)
She said she was going to give them to her daughter and a couple other girls that do a show about The Andrew Sisters. Their show is called "The Sisters of Swing"

I remember there being a group at the Jazz Festival and they were the Sisters of Swing.

Anyway after she received the tins she said she would love to have some note cards to go along with these tins to give the girls. She wanted to know if I knew of anyone that could make cards. Well you know me...I used to make cards and I still have cards so YES I told her I would make the note cards too.

I mentioned that it would be great if I had a photo of the Sister of Swing so I could make some of the cards with their picture and some of The Andrew Sisters.

This is the photo she sent to me to put on the note cards.
These are THE SISTERS OF SWING!

The following is an article about them posted in the Boston Globe

A return to Stoneham — and sisterhood

Trio form bond in retelling Andrews story

From left: Kimberly Robertson, Laura DeGiacomo, and Kerri Jill Garbis play the Andrews Sisters in “Sisters of Swing’’ at Stoneham Theatre. (Neil Reynolds)

STONEHAM — They’ve been singing and dancing together for years. Backstage they laugh and cry and argue and tease. They’re the Andrews Sisters onstage — and more than a little bit offstage, too.

At the Stoneham Theatre through July 24, Laura DeGiacomo, Kerri Jill Garbis, and Kimberly Robertson don wigs and classic mid-20th-century American garb to play the Andrews Sisters in “Sisters of Swing.’’

“I play LaVerne, and I’m the most important one,’’ Garbis says, and all three crack up. “I’m really bossy — and by I, I mean Kerri Jill Garbis.’’

“Patty is more of the clown, and she’s the baby. She tends to get the big silly moments in the show,’’ says DeGiacomo, who plays her.

“And then there’s Mackie,’’ Robertson says, using the nickname for her character, Maxene. “Mackie just wants to be noticed. So Mackie does what she can to get that.’’

Sitting in a basement rehearsal room a week before the opening, in T-shirts and sweat pants, the actresses form a very modern kind of sisterhood. All three cop to being well suited to their roles. They first appeared in “Sisters of Swing’’ here in 2008 and made it the theater’s best-grossing musical ever, until a recent production of “42nd Street.’’ They remained friends after the run and took occasional outside gigs as the Andrews Sisters at corporate events, fund-raisers, and even a parade or two. Now they’re thrilled to be back together in a remount of the production.

Garbis compares the Andrews Sisters to the Destiny’s Child or Spice Girls of their day.

“And American as apple pie,’’ says Robertson. “They stood for so much.’’

The real-life trio was as big a singing group as America had in the 1930s and ’40s, with hits like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’’ and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.’’ They were especially popular during World War II, often performing for the troops overseas. But the actresses say the real-life sisters were also ahead of their time in their independence. The show includes a scene in which they stand up against racism in the military.

“Don’t you think if they were here today they’d be all out for equality and equal rights?’’ asks Garbis. “Absolutely,’’ say the other two.

The production also includes Steve Gagliastro in multiple roles — Carmen Miranda, for instance — and an eight-piece band conducted by musical director Mario Cruz, who plays piano onstage.

The three had never met before their auditions in 2008, but as the show went on, they bonded. Just after the end of the run, a vocal coach connected to DeGiacomo arranged a conference

The rest is history.

It would be such a pleasure to see these girls perform. I am honored that Laura DeGiacomo's mother thought enough my work to ask about a custom order. Wow.....

Search Engine Survey

I need you help my friends.

If you were going to search for one of the items in my Etsy shop what would you type in to find it?

I am having a problem with that. Normal people looking for something, myself included don't search using fancy words or descriptions so I thought I would pick your brains and see what you all come up with.

Right now I have Tin Boxes, cigar boxes and jars altered.
Etsy says to use seven words to put in Google for the search engine.

I don't seem to have the traffic I want.

How would you search for an altered altoid tin or an altered cigar box or jar?
They are decorated by hand but would you search for a handmade tin? They are decorated but would you search for decorated tin.

Help!

Thanks everyone

New Tins and a NO NO !

These are made with pieces and parts of old jewelry used as embellishments and decorative paper .
Thought I would try something different and not use a collage.

Heads Up Ladies..........
Yesterday I was notified by Etsy that they had removed 2 of my items for copyright infringement of the Zumba name. The Zumba Legal department sent a notice to Etsy.

The letter stated that these listing(s) incorporate designs,

symbols, language, images, or photographs that infringe upon

the concerned party's copyright or other intellectual property

right.

I had made two tins and decorated them with bright colors and the word zumba on them. That is a no no girls...don't do it.


Here they are.

It is not like I was trying to make millions on the Zumba name.I didn't use the logo or any photos and I didn't even use the same font. In fact the reason I did that is because I love Zumba so much and wanted to make something cute for others that love Zumba. Wasn't trying to get rich by using Zumba's name !

I had to laugh as I read the email. Surely they are not serious. I am sure they were not just targeting my shop as these tins were only listed for 10.00 each and had not sold yet. Now that just might break the Zumba bank right?

These two tins are deleted from my Etsy shop and will be going to my Zumba instructors as GIFTS.

Just wanted to give you heads up. Be careful when creating. I always have been but this bite me in the butt. Actually made me laugh.

Sorry Zumba!

So if I go to prison will you all come see me ?

The Mast Barn

The Mast barn stands on a hill above green pasture lands of Lee Valley, east of Coquille, Oregon.
It is a Century Farm, established in 1872 and now owned by Ann Mast and her son Bill.
The Masts recently joined several dairies in Coos Bounty providing organic milk.

Jesus Take The Wheel

My latest collage. It will be going on a tin tomorrow and then posted in my Etsy Shop.
It was inspired by the song by Carrie Underwood. Sometimes in life when you pray and that is all you can do, you just have to turn it all over to God.
Jesus Take the Wheel

New in my Etsy Shop tonight

I finally got my creativity back last week, thanks to my friend Brenda who had a challenge for our Etsy Team to do something in Steampunk for this month.

This is an altered tin made with custom paper, two sizes of chain, metal gears and a metal clock face. It inspired me and got my creative juices flowing.

I had been wanting to do another altered cigar box for my shop so when I finished the tin I started on this cigar box. It is covered with decorative paper on the outside and inside top lid. The inside of the box has shear fiber paper lining. I embellished it with chain, metal decorative paper clips, metal gears, metal clock face and shear fabric leaves in three different colors.

Okay I am on a roll now...I received this tin from one of my fellow swappers. It is a bit thinner than an altoid tin but a bit wider also so I had this idea to make a pretty box and put a sewing kit inside.

This is it!

This tin is covered with shear fiber paper and embellished with a cabochon face with silk flower petals around it. There are 4 vintage cabochons making the shape of a butterfly and tiny blue pearls accent it perfectly.

This will make a very nice gift for someone.

Myrtle Lane Organic Dairy

This Barn is an Organic Dairy. Located west of Myrtle Point, OR on Old Broadbent Road. It is owned by Tom Brown. He has modern barns used for milking his Jersy herd and this older one is now used to store hay. It was rebuilt in the 1960's when it was owned by Duke Davenport who once milked 20 cows there.