Shabby Accumulations

The View of A Garden Grown Wild

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:11:00 +0000

The view when I walk outside my door, starts out like this.

I can walk one of three paths. This one goes up to our gargage deck. This is also the path to the former, and apparently current, home of Gertie the bird. She or a very similar look alike, has returned to her nest. Once again with a very round belly! We still scare her though every time we go near the door, which is near her nest. She chirps and flies off for a while, until the coast is clear.

I can also go another two ways. One way heads down our driveway, and I mean DOWN. It is extremely steep! The other heads up it to the front of our garage and also my doggies favorite trail.I have said before that I am not a gardener! I was blessed, (or cursed, depending on how you look at it) with a beautiful, somewhat wild garden. It was left behind by the former owner, and these pictures are only a small part of it!

These flowers below are my "doing". Don't ask me what they are though! They came from a packet of wildflower seeds! I like how they look though and was suprised that something I planted actually grew!

My favorites thouth, are the roses! It seems like there are different colors every year!

I will sadly miss all this color when it has gone for the season, but totally appreciate its' beauty while it is here!

In this moment

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:57:00 +0000

It has been a beautiful weekend here. Sunny blue skies, a bit of rain, and a sweet breeze. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Time spent with friends and family and quiet walks with my dogs were the highlight of my weekend. It couldn't get much better!
This is a bottle cap pendant I finished a few days ago. So some reason I couldn't get the right lighting today, so it is not the best of photos! I used a rosary medal for the center image, it is placed over words from a latin dictionary. Yet another project from my Mary Hetts' book! Still lots and lots to go before I make my way through them all. Am having a blast doing it though!

Mixed Metal Chainmaille Bracelet

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:12:00 +0000

This is my weekend project. I had so much fun making this bracelet! It was yet another project in Mary Hetts' book.

It is listed in my etsy shop.And here is Yogibear, saying "Hi". Or maybe he is saying get away from me with that camera, not sure. Actually he should be cowering with his non-tail dragging because he just tried to EAT or neighbors sweet, sweet dog. She is about 4 times the size of Yogi, but he is apparently is not aware of this. Lucky for Yogi, Sadie (the sweet neighbor dog) is just that sweet, and didn't try to have a Yogi for a scooby snack..

The dog took the picture...

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:24:00 +0000

The sun came out today! I was sooo happy! It has been a busy weekend! I spent a load of time working on a jewelry project, of which I am being too lazy to photograph for now. Next time, I promise! It took forever to make, but the end result was well worth it!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend.

We had a quiet 4th, spending it with neighbors. Well, maybe not too quiet. They do have a couple of microphones set up in their bar....

Today I decided it was time to hit the bike trail again. I ran most of the way, carting my digicam in my sweaty little hands, and stopping here and there for some pics. (also too lazy to load those at the moment!) But, my leg, while it still hurt, it didn't seem to hurt that bad. I tried to run lightly, and walk also. We will see how the next run goes, sometimes the 2nd in a row is not that good. Fingers crossed! The fact that I actually got to run as far as I did, AND on the bike trail, AND with my digicam, made my day! That and a phone call from my son to tell me about how much fun

he had in Albany on the 4th. That was the frosting on the cake, hearing his voice with such happiness in it!

A dogs' view of the trail out back. I strapped the camera on my dogs back and set the timer.
Not bad ha? lol, I hope you didn't believe that!

So I walked

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:45:00 +0000

I have some of the sweetest blogging friends, and I have not met a one of them. I know they are my friends because they listen to my whining! But I appreciate their encouraging comments, their friendship, and sharing pieces of our lives here and there,...and took their advice. I went for a walk.

The raindrops here where just holding on for dear life, clinging to the petals of this flower! Luckily they held on long enough for me take a their picture!This is the path I take almost every day with my four legged friends. They usually run up ahead of me, and then turn to make sure I am coming with them.
Like I have said before, I am so blessed to have had a "mad and avid" gardener live here before me! Something new is always growing. My garden is wild and beautiful looking. I am constantly feeling enchanted when I return home and walk down the path to my front door!

Reflection

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:04:00 +0000

This is my bench Monday photo for this week. It sort of says it all for me lately! These feet are made for running..and that's just what I'll do..(not how the song goes, I know!) Well, I thought they were made for running. I went to the orthopedist last week to see what my major malfunction was after still having pain in my leg from a fall over 5 weeks ago! He confirmed there was not a fracture, via a second x-ray, with no calcification, but also said he was not suprised that I still had pain, (bone bruise, fascia and muscle damage!) that the way I hit my shin was was the equivalent of taking a hammer to it at such and such a force. He gave me a few options...physical therapy..(not!..can I not do that myself?), an MRI to show the extent of damage, or wait three weeks and call if I am not better. He also said I could walk for 2 miles a day and run, increasing by a 1/4 of a mile a week as long as I felt ok. Well, I guess I don't feel ok, because the increase in mileage is not working. To be honest, I ran a little more than prescribed today, but know now that I am not ready for that! Serenity NOW! So hard for me! I am used to a relaxing, yes I said relaxing 8 mile run! Spontaneous combustion will be on the agenda for sometime in the near future! For those of you who don't know, I fell at work, slipping gracefully and effortlessly on a small bit of water. I am someone who is crazy (ok, maybe stupid) enough to go running in snow storms and between raindrops,..and a small bit of water has done this to me! Do you feel my frustration? Call me a baby, yes, there are people sufferering from way worse, and yes I will get over this, but in the meantime I will wallow in a minuscule bit of self pity..just an itsy weensy bit...and then go walking again.

When in Rome...er, I mean Arkansas

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:53:00 +0000

So, I have not been around here lately, as I was off on another adventure. This time my friend Kristy came with me..something I truly appreciated! My son moved to Arkansas this past March. We had lived there for a short time about 5 years ago, and he has always wanted to move back. A couple of dollars in his pocket and a young mans dreams, off he went. Well, he recently decided that he should come home, he missed his family and things were not quite as easy or the same as they had been before. So off we flew, Kristy and I, to the lovely state of Arkansas. Initially, planned on flying and then driving back, and then plans changed to flying both ways, as my son wasn't sure about coming back, and then after arriving for just a visit, he had made up his mind to come back. I drove back, and Kristy kept with the original plan 2 and flew back.

The temperature hit 106 in the sun while we were there. Oddly enough it did not bother me much! Well it did when we were checking out fuses under the hood of my sons car, a leetle sweaty I was!

It was fun to see my friends reaction to everyones' southern hospitality (something not familiar to many New Yorkers, and something I truly miss! Why can't northerners be just a little more gracious! I figure it is the cold, nasty weather??!)

Back to the when in Rome title. When in Cabot, Arkansas you MUST go to eat at the Mean Pig BBQ! If there was one place I could have packed up and taken with me back to NYS, it would have been this one! Oh, and the REAL Mexican food at Los Palmas in North Little Rock. We also just had to have dinner there while visiting!

We didn't however, get to see a tornado. They are quite common in central Arkansas, there was one a week before we got there. The town we lived in was actually devasted by one a year before we moved there. They had to rebuild the schools, which are all on one campus, making the high school an actual storm shelter, with the hallways sloping downwards towards the middle. Happy to miss that one! While I am scared to death of them, I am also in awe of them, and would love to see one from a very safe distance!

We are all back in the safety of our own homes now, minus the Mean Pig, but plus a few bottles of their barbecue sauce.

Man it's noisy around here!

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Ahhh..what a lovely, gorgeous weekend it has been. I have been particularly obsessed with snapping pics of the clouds around here! They have been so white fluffy and huge! More to come on those in a future post! I did make my way out to the garage today, which means I disruppted the whole neighborhood with some very noisy hammering! It was all worth it, I am so sure they would agree! I made the brass and copper pendant above. It has a vintage clip on earring as part of it also.I also hammered out a pair of earrings! They were a blast to make! They are also made of copper and brass, with little clear crystals dangling from them.

I am still getting much inspiration from Mary Hetts' book, as you can see, just sort trying to reach out on my own a bit and use what she has taught me!

Feeling kinda sad

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:51:00 +0000

I am just getting home from work, and am feeling kinda sad. Is it because it was my last day as a nursing supervisor, soon to be on to a new life in a different positon? ( I have this fault of getting very attached to people I work with!) Is it because I worked 12 hours and missed it when the sun came out for ten minutes today? ( Feel like I lose a whole day doing 12 hour shifts, done with them for now though!) Is it because my dogs seem mad at me for doing two 12 hours shifts in a row and virtually neglecting them? (Don't let them fool you, our friendly, loving neighbors, including two adorable children, come over on days I work to play with them!) No, it is because, I came home from work, threw on a tee and sweats, walked outside with the poochies to win their love back again...and noticed my beloved baby birds and their mama, Gertie, have left their nest. I thought maybe they just went for a little trip about town, but when hubby came back from his man walk ( he is getting into shape again!) he told me watched the nest for quite a while, and no sign of our precious friends! I pulled a chair up and looked in the nest..and nada, zilch..not even eggshells! So to make myself feel better, I found a cute pic I took in Conneticut of some wayward ducks, going the wrong way. It did make me smile, just for a minute. I still want my baby birdies back!

So I am of missing them, the birdie fam. Tomorrow I will try to feel better and forget about it, perhaps a run. Something that has been all but impossible lately..or for the past three weeks (perhaps that is why the loss of the birdie fam is bothering me so much)! I very gracefully fell at work in the cafeteria, slipping on bit of water. I earned a score of a 4/10 from my coworkers....I stood up right away..someone had the nerve to say.."She looks like she did that on purpose." Perhaps I was just too graceful? lol. Needless to say, I appear to have injured myself. I cannot run even a mile without being in pain and having to walk home! Mind you my idea of a good time is a nice sweaty 10 mile run! I have taken some time off, and maybe feel better, will attempt again tomorrow. If not, have a pending appt. with an orthopod! Arrrghhh! So much for the boilermaker this summer...only the largest 15k in the country, and a huge blast! Wish me luck tomorrow! I posted a picture of a the lake at my friends camp...dreaming of my birdie family relocating there..and flying happily over the water!

The Newest Addition to our Family!

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:20:00 +0000

This is the site that greeted my husband one morning when he went out to our garage. Her name is Gertie. She and her mate found the perfect little home, with its' own welcome sign, that sheltered it from the elements. Her nest is actually perched right on top of a wreath made of dried flowers.

Gertie has been very, very protective of her home. Any time we go to enter the garage through the side door, which is right next to Gerties' little piece of paradise, she gets awfully upset.

She would fly at my hubby, chirping loudly, her partner would sit in an adjacent tree keeping watch, and chirp her a warning signal as he was walking onto our deck! She was bringing an awfully lot of groceries to her nest. Something was definitely up!

This morning this is what we found! Aren't they sweet!

The latest

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:14:00 +0000

I just wanted to show you my latest listings in Distressing Delilahs' Etsy shop. Above is a shabby chic broken china neckalce. It is one of my favorite broken china pieces that I have made. It is strung on a vintage chain with a sweet little filigree piece holding the pendant.

I bought this book a while back and was amazed at the beautiful techniques it displayed! For anyone who loves photography and altered images, it is a great resource. I have found my library is growing way too fast, and my want of other books for my library is also growing, thus the listing!

I made these earrings from vintage clip ons! Then I added some gold colored chain and earwires.

I am a very susceptible to buying any vintage childrens' book I find! They are all so sweet! We actually have a couple of shelves of them! Alas, I believe it is time to part with some of them!

All of the above are listed here:

Distressing Delilahs'

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! It is absolutely beautiful here today, and I am enjoying every minute of it!

Pyrexmania!!

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:37:00 +0000

How can you not love these dishes???? I have a lovely lineup of them on top of my kitchen cabinet, and am always on the lookout for more additions to my collection.
I promised a twitter friend, Papercakes, that I would post a pic of my black and white pyrex dish today. This one is my absolute favorite dish ever! The black and white ones seem to be tough to find, and I only have one. The same goes for the yellow and black dish underneath this one. I have only one and don't often see this color either.

Here are some of my blue and white pyrex. This color is a lot easier to find.

The pink and white patterened pyrex seems to be all over. I actually have a whole set of these, thanks to my mom and some thrifty finds!

The bottom dish here, the red one, is a pyrex, and appears very old. The shiny finish is worn off it. This is my second favorite! Probaby because, again, I have not been able to find many of them. The dish on top is a fireking dish. I must go now and hunt for more! Until next time...!

The Wine Trail

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:59:00 +0000

For my 29th birthday this year (lol if you believe the number!) we went to Watkins Glenn, along the way, making our trip up the wine trail! Two of our neighbors, who happen to be very close friends, went along with us. It was their first wine tasting tour and our second. Needless to say fun was had by all! And I found a few new favorite wines to add to my ever growing list! One of them is called Eft, by Red Newt Cellars of the Finger Lakes. It's a red wine and sort of taste like shiraz. An eft is a young newt, a new piece of information I picked up at the winery, as I had never heard of an eft. Can't imagine many people have! I have lots of others pictures, but to be honest right now am being too lazy to go into photoshop and resize them! They are too big at the moment. Bad lazy blogger, that I am. Well maybe just for the moment!

okay, so I unlazied myself, and edited a few! There are lots more though! This is Belhurst Castle, where we ate lunch. The wine is awesome there as is the food! And the castle is just gorgeous! We tried to get a room there in the castle tower, but when we looked online they were booked.

This is hubby dear. Notice the watery eyes! Poor soul had a nasty cold, but braved it out for me! I am so lucky to have him!

This is J.B., my lil' partner in photography, well actually we aren't partners, we just jibber jab about camera, photoshop and whatever photography related subject we happen upon that day! For some reason he was taking a picture of the girls in the backseat. Apparently someone else was taking his picture back.

I hope you all are having a peaceful, but fun Memorial Day weekend!

My other Secret Garden

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:53:00 +0000

This is part one of my secret garden. Part two can be found here .

When I look at this photo I feel like I could be two inches tall, just wandering around amongst the flowers!

Things have been sort of busy for me lately. Yesterday I went to a seminar in Stamford, Conneticut. The seminar was for work. We actually left Sunday morning and somehow..don't ask me how, the car swerved off the thruway into the parking lot of Woodbury Commons (gads upon gads of factory outlets lined the outskirts of this parking lot!!)

After a marathon shopping day, we stayed until closing, we headed to our hotel. The rest of the trip was not as pleasant though. We checked in and had a late dinner. Mine was very good, nicoise salad (neeshwah, as the waiter told me) with pan seared salmon and a champagne dressing. Lucky thing I enjoyed it because as soon as I got to my room I felt extremely ill. ALL night! By morning all was well though, but not for another co-worker of mine. She was sick to her stomach all day, and all night, including the ride home. (which took us 4 hours or so) We got lost in an 'eh gahds I have so much money I don't know what to do with it' neighborhood. (never trust a garmin!) My poor friend picked a very lovely lawn to pullover and be ill on...really I don't think she truly cared what kind of lawn it was, not so sure about the owners! We then had to ask for directions a few times. We came upon a man walking his dog, I thought to myself..'hmmm..looks like Arnold', you know, the termintator/governor Arnold. I wanted to roll out of my seat when he opened his mouth and had the exact same accent as Mr. S! We pulled away, and apparently nobody had the same thought, but I said...that was Arnold! My car buddies didn't think so...but tell me people..irony..the accent???!!!!

Happy Birthday to me...and Casey!

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:22:00 +0000

Yesterday I walked into work and found these beautiful roses sitting on the counter! They were from a co-worker who shares the same birthday with me. I think they are absolutely gorgeous, orange roses have always been my favorite!

Today is my 40th birthday, and my youngest sons 19th birthday. I love sharing a birthday with him! He actually was 6 weeks early when he was born. Something I always have found a little strange is that his dad was born on his mothers' birthday also. A rare coincedence I guess.

These are my Stars and Moon earrings, created from vintage clip on earrings. I just listed them in my etsy shop this morning.

I have a fresh batch of vintage costume jewelry to create with, thanks to some co-workers! They were so sweet and thoughtful to do this, and I feel absolutely spoiled. At our morning break yesterday they gave me a black and ivory colored toile covered box, just overflowing with little goodies! Most of which were costume jewelry that they had found! I felt like a kid in a candy shop! Perhaps some complimentary jewelry will be coming there way. More to come on the creations! Now off to start the first day of being 40...hmmmm..I think I will go for a run. (highly unusual for me, not!)..and also something I didn't do when I was 20!

Fish bowl be gone!

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:53:00 +0000

The curtains are finally up in my little studio! It is so much nicer knowing I am not sitting in a fishbowl anymore. The sliding glass doors got pretty spooky at night with nothing on them! Especially if I decide to watch an episode of Medium online, which I did a week or so ago. It became dark as I sat in here watching it, I also had not one light on in the house. Hubby was out of town, I wasn't aware of how freaky things seemed until I looked around for a moment! Anways I finally have a touch of 'shabby' added to this space, a look that I love! There is a lot more I want to do with the decor of this room, it will remain a work in progress for quite some time, I am sure!

My garden is in 1/2 bloom so far! It just keeps getting prettier and prettier every day! Everything is getting prettier! I made the mistake, well it wasn't really a mistake, of taking my camera with me on my run today. I made quite a few stops along the way. Needless to say there are lots and lots of pictures patiently waiting in my digicam to be let loose!

Here are a few pictures from the show this weekend. I entered 6 pieces, 4 prints and two collages. Above is the Rose Tree. I had the chance to drool over some gorgeous pottery displayed there! It is almost the same shade as my soon to be new kitchen countertop...and laundry room walls...sort of the shade of bluish green in my collage below.

This is Allies' Fairyland. The original 'Allie' was going to go this week and have her picture taken standing next to it, it is place at just here height! I can't wait to see how it comes out!

I haven't completed any new collages lately. Somehow, I just seem so busy! And then get so tired! Hopefully soon I will have something new and exciting to show you!

This one is for you Dad

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:20:00 +0000

The last time I saw my dad, we made plans to go out for pizza for his birthday. We talked about my future plans. He wanted to know as much as I could tell him. I told him I was going to college for an art degree and talked about other nonspecifics in my life, that seemed very important to him at the time. I hugged him goodbye, afraid he would break in my arms. I could have counted every single bone in his back. We never went out for pizza for his birthday. Instead he took his last trip to the hospital. I was a teenager back then, he was 35. I never finished college with a degree in art, instead changed my path to nursing, always longing for that art career. Tonight I am going to an artists' viewing of a local county art show that I am participating in. Last week my mom was up and we dropped my artwork for the show. She told me how she remembered going to the same art show a few times, years ago, back in the 70's, with my dad. I remember going to my dads' apartment once and seeing an easel set up, with a drawing he was working on, and how he showed me how to draw a daisy, I may have been 5 or 6. I am thrilled to be showing my artwork locally for the first time, and also thrilled knowing my dad walked the same halls so long ago. I don't know where my relationship would have gone with my father, had he lived. I like to think it would have evolved, matured and strengthened, though I will never know. I do know I think of him often and all that he has missed, and all that his children may have missed. I do know I will love him forever and still speak to him often. So in saying that, my dear father, tonight is for you.

The "Net" and my fam!

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:18:00 +0000

My "netted" pendant,
I started out to create a netted pendant, next on my quest for making my way through 'the book'! (Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet by Mary Hetts.) As per usual, it turned out differently than planned! I began folding the brass piece and it ended up looking like a flower! A perfect setting for the little pieces of of silver colored wire that dangled from it. I kept the netting to less than 1/2 the length of the brass piece to show the textures and colors of the metal.

Our day lilies have made their primary appearance this week. They are so sweet looking!

Corey Quinn...has been skateboarding since he was very little!

Yesterday I went to see my sons' apartment in Albany..finally! He moved out this March while his younger brother and I were driving to Arkansas, to move his younger brother there. I just have not had the chance to make it to Coreys due to a crazy schedule lately. Sunday, I just dropped everything and took the afternoon to drive down there. I am so glad I did! His apartment isn't too shabby for a first. He has some nice roomates and neighbors, very much a place where Corey would feel right at home!

My Mom and Corey

After going to Coreys' we headed over to my aunts in Delmar, where my mom has been staying. We had a nice dinner out at a local pub called Befs. It was the last time I will see my mom before she goes home tomorrow. I will miss her so much! She is trying to sell her house in Florida so she can be back here with family, the market just is not cooperating. I keep my fingers crossed though.

Girlie Day

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:49:00 +0000

My mom is up here from Florida visiting, well actually helping out with my Granny, while my aunt and uncle go away on a trip. She is staying about an hour away, and my work schedule has been sort of scattered so we are trying to fit visits in here and there. She drove down to my house yesterday and we had a total girlie day! First we visited a local sewing shop, which has the most gorgeous fabric! Makes me want to actually take up sewing...(btw, had my sewing lesson today on my new machine, at the same store we visited). My mom is a sewing fanatic, and very talented at that! My sister and I had the cutest outfits when we were little, all made by mom.

After our visit to the sewing shop, and armed with some really cute fabric..well mom was, I made the mistake of drooling over some flannel Beatrix Potter fabric and that was it, we were coordinating it with two other fabrics so she could make me pillowcases with it, we then headed home. Then, armed with a blow torch and hammer, mom and I created some pea pod necklaces. I need to get a shot of hers and add it to this post..mine is pictured above. The green shade of the beads is so gorgeous in person. I looked over at what she was threading on her wire and saw some crystals along with the beads on it, they looked beautiful together so I gave it a try on mine. Mom laced hers through a copper colored ribbon ( I forget the name of the ribbon, but it was so pretty!) Working with someone else is nice for a change, it brings a totally different view into the picture..and is a lot of fun..especially if it's your mom! Maybe we can schedule one more girlie day while she is here! Pics to follow if we do!
Oh, and if you don't like flowers, this is not the place to visit for the next few months! The will be a 'plethora' (love that word!) of floral photos posted! Happy Spring!

Window Pendant

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:29:00 +0000

This is a window pendant I created with the help of a little instruction from Mary Hetts' book....Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet.
I heartily am continuing my quest to work my way through this book, which is an absolute pleasure to do! There are others I have joined in this quest too! When I am done, I think I will go back and repeat it all again!

I used two of my prints, resizing them to 1 x 1 inch. Each side has a different image. I had them printed on Endura paper, which I LOVE! They are coated with two coats of diamond glaze for extra shininess and protection.

I added a white vintage chain that is very well worn . Instead of screws to link the two pieces of copper, I used headpiins and added silver and gold colored beads. That was it...my latest little copper piece!

Shades of Spring

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:55:00 +0000

The flowers are starting to come up, scattered here and there in my gardens! I can't wait for full bloom! Today the sky is sooo bright blue, it is absolutely gorgeous out! I have been so busy lately, that I haven't found much time to enjoy it. But I have this morning off so I plan to be outside for the better part of it! Lots of jewelry projects are in the works! When they are done I will post them. I am especially excited about my latest...a window pendant from Mary Hetts' book I have been working through. Soon, soon...I hope, it will be done! Have been getting ready for a local art show also. Very excited about that too, as it is in my hometown and for the first time gives me a chance to show some work locally. I hope you are all having a wonderful start to spring! This is just a quick post to let you know I am still here, and thinking of my online friends!

Just Soar

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:03:00 +0000

I have often wondered what I would do if I could no longer run. Being a runner, I can't understand why others don't share my passion for it, all part of the addiction I guess. This morning I picked up the copper piece above, which is stamped to say 'just soar'. I had just returned from a morning jog, that didn't really turn out as I wanted it. Recently I have been having some problems, making it very hard for me to run. I decided after about a month (yes, I am a nurse, who doesn't like to bother with doctors appts!) to get checked out, as I really would like to train for another half or full marathon....so off I went like a good little patient. I have been told to take it easy until further testing..maybe cut down to a mile or so. Well lately, even a mile or so is tough.

This is really quite distressing to me. My no excuse attitude is sitting back, and my body is saying..how do you like me now?! Well, I don't! That is where my copper stamped piece comes in. Just soar. Well I feel like I am soaring when I run. How else can I do this? For one, I decided to finish the necklace today, and second, I decided this was going to take much patience and thought on my part. I will just start with the patience part...and work on that for now....

All Pulped Out

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:43:00 +0000

Earlier this year I took part in a wonderful blogging event, One World One Heart. Bloggers and artists from all over the world participated. Each blogger involved created a giveaway for the event, we were all "linked up" on one blog. I had the pleasure of visiting Nancy at "All Pulped Out". Nancy is an absolutely, over the top, talented mixed media artist! Not only did I get to visit her, but I was one of the winners of here OWOH giveaway! It is pictured above, and I happen to think it is just gorgeous. If you haven't met Nancy or visited her blog you really need to 'click' over there right now!

The Bead Shelf Necklace

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:02:00 +0000

This is my latest project following along in my new favorite little book...Wrap, Stich, Fold & Rivet. It is a shelf necklace. I had a great time making it! All the pieces I am making from this books' instructions, the ones I am posting, are my first attempts.

I really can't wait to go through and do them all over again, using what I learned through my own trial and error the first time!

Yogi and Tia thought they would pop in and say hi too. If you don't remember Mr. Photogenic, above, is Yogi.

And this raving beauty is Tia, or T-bird, or queen la tia...or whatever I decide to call her at any particular moment. They have been pouting most of the weekend, as it has been especially grey here. I too have been pouting because of this. I went for my run this morning, (in the grey, with a few FRIGGGING snow flurries floating around!) Hubby left again for a long business trip today. And now I believe I am boring my dogs to tears. We did venture out for an afternoon walk and sniff, armed with my camera. I wasn't satisfied with the few shots I got, so when I dropped poochies off, I hopped in my Xterra and drove throught the cemetary. I really enjoy this, sad as it sounds. It is so peaceful there. I also took lots and lots of pictures! Some of which you may see some day soon on my other blog....(dedicated to all things distressing, whatever it may be!) lol! Actually I try to keep the more serious artsy things on that blog and the fun stuff here! It is easier to pick and choose which one you visit I guess, or at least easier for me to sort things out! Here's hoping for sunny weather in the very near future!

Vintage Purses

yogitiad@yahoo.com (Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:59:00 +0000

I have a small armys worth of vintage purses, yet another guilty pleasure of mine! Who wants a new purse when you can get a sweet little old one with lots of character....and one that not everyone else is sporting?

For storage purposes I am parting with a choice few (and keeping a choice many!) My thinking is, that if I sell some, I can go out and buy more? Anyone else think that way? Due to my overwhelming desire to look for more purses I am selling these and few others in my artfire store, Distressing Delilahs' .

And spring is finally here! I am so happy! It seems like it has been one of the longest winters ever! We still have snow on the ground in many places, but at the same time fresh green is sprouting up here and there. Soon the whole world here will be colored green again! Of course I have the usual plan to be a good little gardener. It doesn't usually last the whole season through, but the intention is there. (Sometimes it ends suddenly at the first sight of a snake.) I am planning on planting a small vegetable garden also. Every year the man down the street has the most beautiful, meticulous vegetable garden and I am very envious of it! He is kind enough to set his extra vegetables on a stand at the side of his yard for anyone to take. Perhaps my garden will be that overgrown with vegetables....and not weeds. I guess it is all up to me on that one!