kandeland

Party Planning!

 

As you know, I ALWAYS have to have something to look forward to. Always. The last few months have been busy and fun and loaded with plans... I was fortunate enough to have two art retreats with blog friends within the last few months! This year I'm skipping Silver Bella so that's not on the horizon, and now I'm finding myself coming to the point where my big plans are winding down.

 

So what to do to keep from daily burn out? Plan another party of course!! Every year we usually have some sort of party at our house...sometimes Halloween, sometimes a winter Tea Party, sometimes a summer party outside. So Garden Party it is! So this Saturday I'm gearing up for some friends, neighbors and even a few random people that we barely know (seriously!) to come over for some drinks and fun! The best part is that some fellow blogland friends you may know will be coming too! There's nothing like blogland and "real life" (as I like to call it) coming together! Vivian (http://vivs-whimsy.blogspot.com) is coming down from about an hour away, Sandy (http://sandy-sandyscreations.blogspot.com)  is staying for the weekend (!!) since she's heading down from Toronto, and Jenny (www.lollipopworkshop.com) is venturing over too, now that she's so close!! I'm so excited to see these girls again! It's no big party, but hopefully it will just be some laughs and nice weather out in our garden- something to look forward to without leaving home!

So what do these magnets have to do with anything?

 

Well I just love making these little easy magnets with the wonderful images from Retro Cafe Art, and decided to put them out for little party favors. And since I think they are so cute, I've also decided that from now on, every item that is purchased in my etsy shop (http://kandeland.etsy.com) will automatically come with a free magnet! So you won't see them for sale, but you will get one with every purchase! I tend to get addicted to making the same thing for awhile, so I just know these magnets will be taking over the house soon...so why not share?!

So now I must get back to the party planning....be back soon!

Shading, Collage and Journal Cover

Here are some of the journal pages that I posted before, but now with the charcoal shading....

 

 

 

It makes such I difference I think!

 

So now I will start some new pages!

I also signed up for Teresa's ezine- "A Journal of Interest" as I said and I've only just made the cover that I'll be using. I decided on a really old children's book cover and I am not going to change anything to the front or back.

 

I just coated the old covers in Gel Medium so they didn't completely fall apart! On the inside of the covers I just did this:

 

And one more thing I wanted to show you was a collage I finally completed that I put in my etsy shop today. I loved making this collage and liked the outcome too!

 

It's a 9 X 12 piece that I handpainted, stamped, collaged and detailed.

 

I wanted to try something different for hanging, so I attached burlap and ran a real stick through the burlap loops.

 

So that's all for today....I hope everyone is enjoying any picnics they had planned- the weather here is perfect!

more work-in-progess....

I have been working on my quote-filled art journal more, but I've been doing several pages at once, rather than one at a time. So I thought I'd show you some sneak peeks of some pages I'm doing now...

 

I thought if I got a lot of the painting and glueing done on a few pages I could then take the notebook with me when I went places and only need to bring pens and charcoal.

 

 

 

I'm excited to work on the above one...I love the old photo of the lady at the Falls...I'm not sure I ever used her in anything. And I love how the painting came out on this one...these colors are my favorite to work with.

I also glued some decorative paper on the front of the watercolor book I'm using....

 

It was feeling dull before this paper!

 

Today I also signed up for Teresa's new ezine on journaling here www.paperbellastudio.com - but have not started that one yet!

Stop back again and hopefully I will upload some of these completed journal pages. Happy 4th of July Weekend!

last weekend....

Here we are almost at a new weekend and I'm finally going to post about last weekend! Anyway, my cousin Mike graduated from high school and my mom threw him a party at her house and here are some pics! I partied like I was a teenager myself- (and was hurting the next day!)...

 

Here is my brother, my mom and me!

 

The graduate- my cousin Mike

 

The cake I never even got a bite of, because I was too "busy" downstairs in the bar!

 

My brother and one of my best friends since I was 15- Tera!

 

My cousin Rachel who I'm always trying to corrupt!

 

Mike's picture board

 

Mike gettin' down!

 

My mom and Tera

 

Me and Dave

 

Mike the graduate!

We had such a blast! I mean, I always have a blast- I practically insist upon it- but we ALL did! Congratulations Mike!

art journal obsessed again....

The last two days all I want to do is work in my watercolor notebook and doodle, paint and collage....

 

I took Pam Carriker's online class and got so inspired to make some pages...

 

It's the perfect thing to work on while sitting on the porch...

 

So since the Mad Tea Party (which was loads of fun! many thanks to all who stopped by!) I have been quietly doing some art journaling. I'll be back real soon with some pics of my cousin's graduation party!

Welcome to the Party! The Mad Tea Party that is!

Follow the garden path, and the smell of sweets and sunshine....

 

You're almost there...

 

Welcome to The Mad Tea Party in Kandeland!!

 

The sun is shining, the guests are arriving...grab yourself a cup of Bluest-Berry-Magic-Tea and stay a bit!

 

What a perfect day for some laughter, music, and sweet treats....

Grab a party hat and mingle with our friends...

 

Let me introduce you to the fabulous Miss Maija who came with her favorite candy snacks...

 

Maybe she'll share! If not not there's more goodies on the table...let's have a looksee...

 

Oh! those cupcakes look wonderful, but I hear there's a low-fat cake somewhere too...

 

I think I need a refill - it's so warm out today!

 

Wait! Who just showed up? More friends?....

 

Well step right up, there's plenty for everyone!

 

I must thank Mr. Parrot for all the help setting up...he was a life-saver!

 

Is everyone having a good time? Are you making new friends?

 

Have another treat....

 

Boy, it's getting loud and crazy out here! I think Mr. Snail is getting quite full! I never saw him move so slow!

 

And these girls are lounging in the sugar now!

 

Well why not indulge I say!! It's not every day there's a party of this caliber!

 

Are you having fun? Can I pour you another drink?

 

I think I'm going to mingle some more, but have a seat and make yourself comfortable- relax!

 

This has been such fun! But I know it's getting late and we must not miss the other parties!

 

Maybe I'll pick up a few things and we can venture off for a bit....we'll keep the music playing and come back later...

 

I'm just so excited to move on and see what everyone else has planned!

 

This sure was a fabulous time though! I'm so glad you made it here!

 

So grab a cupcake for the road and follow me!

 

We will visit more friends here: http://afancifultwist.typepad.com) ...

 

Hope you had a fabulous time!! xoxo

happy things

 I thought I'd share some things that I'm enjoying today....

1. These new cards by Laini's Ladies- The Bohemian Collection, with a quote by a favorite author of mine, Mark Helprin:

 

2. These cute girls that I've made my "adopted relatives"! I can't remember where I found this but it was already framed...I just added some embellishments and hung it in my art room:

 

3. These fun goodies that were on my doorstep today from Maija (http://maigirlz.typepad.com)- G7 instant coffee I wanted to try (that Maija raves about) , as well as these mints I love!:

 

4. My new reading material for the week...The Joanne Harris book is a sequel to Chocolat that I just found out about:

 

5. Jazz music as always....

 

6. The excitement surrounding Saturday's Mad Tea Party....only 48 hours!

 

What things are making you happy today?

52Q progression....

I've been semi-keeping-up with my 52Q year of mini art journaling. Here are a few random questions or answers for some of the weeks....to see more use my side bar link to view my flickr....

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing for the Party!

This Saturday is Vanessa's Mad Tea Party!!! I'm getting preparations underway!!

 

So many fabulous blogs are participating- it is going to be unbelieveable! Stop by Vanessa's sidebar links to see everyone who is going to be partying Mad Hatter Style this weekend at http://afancifultwist.typepad.com !

Ways to spend your money on a Monday....

The far more important of the two being this:

  Stop over and support Ovarian Cancer Awareness here:

http://www.scrapbookroyalty.com/tiesthatbind.html   There will be a fantastic raffle in September.

And my other favorite way to spend: ETSY! So to save a little money to put back into the world of etsy goods I thought I'd update and sell a few items....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop on over... http://kandeland.etsy.com