Maigirlz Madness

Acting Like Pre-teen Girls at a Jonas Brothers Concert.....

That's how Jessi and I were yesterday walking into some of the Phoenix areas best stores!
 My girl Jessi is vacationing at a local resort with her family so I grabbed her yesterday for some retail therapy!

Our first stop was Mystic Paper in Mesa where we hung out with Kim and got a surprise visit with Mike Putnam!

Maija Jessi and Kim at Mystic

After grabbing some coffee, we headed to Olive Annie - a darling shop full of lovely clothing and jewelry.



From there we went to Rust and Roses where they have an amazing collection of all things vintage old and new!  Not to mention some of the best prices anywhere!





For me, the big thrill was when we arrived here:

Frances in downtown Phoenix- I think my head nearly exploded from the colors, smells and selection!!!!

Just look at Jessi-






I can't believe that I have known about this store and never gone in! The photos don't do it justice- visit if you can!  A couple of my favorite stores Melrose Vintage and Domestic Bliss were closed for the New Year holiday!

I have lots to show but not enough time right now.

Happy New Year!!

Holiday's Wrap-Up

The New Year is almost upon us.  Time for the same old resolutions- lose weight, exercise- all great for the month of January.

Here I am wearing the earrings I bought from Robin Dudley-Howes - please, look at the earrings, not the wrinkles!  I love them, Robin!!

 
Funny thing about losing weight is that I don't really care if a photo isn't so good, perhaps because I feel so good!

Christmas Eve with Friends and our children (Alex isn't in this photo)

Rear L-R: Al, Me, Nick/Kelly and Tom S. /Joe and Lisa C.
Front Boys L-R Callan C, Logan C, Evan S. Brennen C.
Kneeling Girls: Olivia C and Madison S.

The Big Girls- my rocking hot peeps:


Lisa, Me and Kelly



That's Nick BF (since they were about 3) Brennen- Brennen's brother Logan is usually around, but he had his own buddy to hang out with.

And Thanksgiving at my house:

That's sweet love Callan- Lisa and Joe's 4 year old son, and the reason we are such big supporter's of Autism research.


Me and my fabulous cousins Kristin and Nancy.  We always spent our Thanksgivings together growing up.  Our dads are brothers.  Kristin lives in Scottsdale and Nancy in St Paul, so this is our first Thanksgiving together in a very long time!


I love this photo- it is taken in front of my house looking down the street as the sun is setting.  Just over and beyond the house rooflines is miles and miles of the Gila River Indian Reservation. That's Olivia in the foreground.



This is looking up the street.  It's really pretty because we are nestled in this little mountain ridge.  That's Olivia again.  Lisa and Joe's kids are like my nieces and nephews- I would do anything for them.


That's my Alex and Nick's BF Brennen- always fooling around.


What I'm doing....
Working on my Wand and Dress Form for the swaps I'm in for the upcoming
Marie Antoinette Soiree!

Food Porn and Holiday Wishes....

Let's get the "porn" out of the way....
This delight arrived in my mail the other day.  As I opened it and slid off the lid, my body started tingling with delight......


fresh, homemade apple butter with just the right amount of sweet- heaven on my tongue- made by my darling girlfriend Katie.  She knew I was lusting for her butter.......

And this wonderful goodie from my Saucy friend Sascha- mini iPod earrings!!!!  They are so tiny and wonderful- I love the looks I get when I wear them!!


Look what I won....the beautiful Sacred Heart the my girlfriend Rebecca had as a give away on her blog!

And she had a clever way of announcing the winner- she put the winner's name (mine) on a crown to display it!

Rebecca is a tremendously gifted artist in so many mediums....we need to encourage her to open an etsy shop!!!

And from my goofy family to yours.....

Merry Christmas!!!!!

 

Typepad Has Been Naughty....

It's been very difficult to leave messages on posts.  If I jump through some hoops, I can do it, but it's time consuming!
I'm having lunch with some girlfriends and I made one of these for each of them:

I confess!  These are a total Pam Garrison rip-off- I just love her!  They are big- about 10" across.

I made this to list on etsy:

And this little ornie, too (Sold)!

I think I'll sell the shadow box for $25 and the ornie for $8. Maybe  $22 is ok for this charm bracelet? (Sold) The price of the charms is most of the cost:

And this next photo is an accident press, but it's a small spot of my inspiration corner:

My Holiday Home, Shopping and Giveaway!

First my home.  My friend Maria held a blog Holiday House Party and I am late posting because the weather has been overcast.
This isn't a great photo of our tree, but look at the size- 12 feet tall!









The Pixie was made by Cari Craft

The little house is part of Amy Powers Sugarville Collection


The houses I made in  Charlotte Lyons Silver Bella Class







The banner is made by Cari Kraft.  The beautiful bottle is made by Carol-Raised in  Cotton- from Silver Bella last year.  The Madonna and Son statue and the candlesticks are antiques I received from my grandfathers estate.

Some fabulous goodies- Collage on left by Melissa Lobdell, pink felt snowman by
 LK Ludwig and the Santa pixies are made by Jenny Hernandez!!!

Shopping!!

I ordered these from my girl Robin Dudley-Howes to put under the tree for myself!  This is her photo since I haven't opened the box yet!


Crafting:

Made this for a swap with a dear and patient  friend- the first never made it to her, but I like this better:



I made this charm bracelet with some of those little Japanese charms I've been collecting for a few years.  I think I'll sell it on ebay.  I'm finishing one in blues and another in pinks.


Giveaway!

My darling friend Rebecca Brooks is hosting and promoting this auction to raise money for the poor street children in Oaxaca.



Some of the contributors:  Katie Kendrick, Micheal DeMeng, Robin Dudley Howes, Belinda Schneider, Misty Mawn, Sarah Fishburn- and that's just off the top of my head!  Well, if you go to Rebecca's blog, leave a comment and you will be entered in a drawing to win this!!


Go HERE for more details!

Christmas All Around me!

On the 11th Day of Christmas
Cindy Forrester
gave to me:



The cats got to the wrapping....just look at all the beautiful work Cindy did! Layers upon layers of paper topped off with beeswax.  Then true to Cindy's style, all wrapped and twisted and rusted yummies hanging around.  Please look at Deryn's blog for better photos!

On the 12th Day of Christmas
Danita
gave to me:




My own little Danita doll to hang on the tree!  This is the style of face Danita is known for.  She is so charming with a vintage block body and a little red bell to finish her off!

This swap has been extraordinary!

So, when the Super Swap Hostess Heather of Speckled Egg put a call out for an ornie swap, I was all over that!  This is my contribution:



What I received:


Michele Wichell, Willy Nilly


Connie Senyitko


Jeanne Szewczyk


Heather Rowley, Speckled Egg


Fanny Fairbanks


Crystal, Vintage by Crystal


Natalea Kandefer


Cupcake DD


Scrappy Jessi


Sarah Keith


Lisa Harschburger


photo by Natalea Kandefer
Jenny Fowler, Fated Follies Studio

Shall we do it again next year?!?!

What would your mailman do if this packaged needed to be delivered?


Deliver it in perfect condition!!  I bought these from my darling friend Kelly, and I can't take them off!!

They are long and lovely with fiber and beads and all things good to touch! Find more of Kelly's work in her etsy shop!


I keep tweaking this necklace- I'm happy with it now.

I'm hoping to get photos of my holiday home up this afernoon when the light is right!

The 9th and 10th Days of Christmas Rocked!

With this beauty on the 9th day from

Pilar Pollack!


This treasure is a delight to hold in your hands!  It's so silky and soft.  The main image is an original digital collage by Pilar with meaning tied to The Magi.  The woman has her hands outstretched bearing a gift to the world.  The tin star represents the North Star which guided the Three Kings, and the word Joy says it all!

Then on the 10th day of Christmas

Ruth Rae

gave to me:

 

Ruth is the Fabric Goddess of the USA- possibly the world!  Her clever mind must think in fabric!  She fashioned the wrapping for the ornament as a garment bag for the ornie.  How does Ruth get the perfect wrinkles in her fabric pieces?  Inside there is a lovely little dress with sturdy lacy wings, and on it Ruth stitched "Grace to Grow" .  The back is equally beautiful with the wings covered with sheet music, tulle stitched to it and finished with a beautiful vintage button.  What is also cool, is that the dress is 3 layers, and on the inside layer, the slip, she stamped along the bottom.  Such attention to detail!!

Another GIVEAWAY!!

I just have to share these wonderful blog give aways with you, even though it reduces my chances to win.  I want everyone to have the pleasure of enjoying my friend Jamie's beautiful creations!  Go HERE to sign up!


Find more of Jamie's lovelies in her etsy shop!

Tomorrow, the last 2 days of Christmas, and a few of the items I have
been working on!

Child Update...

Nick broke his small finger (aka pinkie).  Since he is close to full grown (almost 14), the doctor feels no surgery is required- yippee!  So, Nick is very uncomfortable with a cast on.  The worst part for me (and him) was putting the dislocated pinkie back into place.  The doctor gave him shots of Novocaine in 3 different spots on his hand!  I almost threw up!

Made this for a friend I did a swap with a while back- I'm late:


Vintage rhinestone button, vintage fabric, a little piece I made in a class with
Julie Haymaker Thompson (love her!)  and a little vintage dangle at the bottom.
 I sure hope my friend likes it!

And before I forget check this out:



Go to Scrappy Jessi's blog to get some wonderful cookie recipes from her annual Cookie Recipe Swap!!

Tomorrow I will treat you to the 9th and 10th day of Christmas Ornies!!!

On the 6th, 7th and 8th Days of Christmas....

I'm running behind- life caught up with me and yesterday was spent tending to my youngest son who dislocated and broke his finger at the growth plate.  I'm sure today will be spent running around trying to get into a hand specialist- Nick is 13.

On to the pretties....

On the 6th day of Christmas
Joanna Pierotti gave to me:

 

This is incredible- Joanna crafted a little book out of vintage lace taters, buttons, ribbon and fabric, all wrapped up with a chain to secure it.  When you open it there is a transfer of a Nativity scene the reads "King of Kings".  Amazing to touch and explore!

On the 7th Day of Christmas

Jackie Allison
gave to me:

Can you see all the detail in this amazing ornie?!?!  The body starts with a bisque doll head, and inside is a key, watch part and beads!!  Then attached to it is some really cool chain that is finished with a start, bead cluster and another vial that is just loaded with tiny watch parts.  It's sensational and absolutely sparkles on the tree!

On the 8th Day of Christmas

Deryn Mentock
gave to me:

As if the wrapping and the one of a kind tag isn't enough, look at this pretty piece of joy that Deryn created!  It is a snowman- my favorite part of Christmas!  I am so in love with him!    His glass body is filled with beads and sparklies, with the word Christmas in silver, and a piece of text that says" we must believe". Around his tinsel neck are beads, a dangley star and a beading "arm" with the word "wish" at the end!

I'm so blown away by the incredible creativity of the group!  Thank you!  Today is day 9, and I will open that treasure when the sun comes up.

I won this lovely spoon ornament in a blog giveaway hosted by Arlene:

And I'll send some doggy love out:

Remington (Remy), our Chesapeake Bay Retriever:

And Lois, "mixed breed" with Scout (mini-beagle):

On The 5th Day of Christmas....

Kelly Snelling gave to me:





OK- this makes my heart flutter, because I know how much of herself Kelly puts into everything she makes.  This 7" mermaid ornie is drawn, hand-painted and sewn with Kelly's talented hands!

And I have to save the packaging because they are little pieces of art!



I received this pretty ornie from Tiffany Shabby Scraps at Silver Bella, and I just hung it on my pretty pink tree:



Darling Jessi.......

she is always thinking of others.  Look at this wonderful package I received from her today:


She remembers detail others might forget like my love of Paris, especially after being there in the Fall- stickers with Paris, and Paris journal, notepads with the Eiffel tower and a postmark stamp that says Paris, France.  AND to top that all off, Jessi sent a vintage style tin sign that has a beagle on it that's just like my little Scout.
Your generosity never ceases to amaze me Jessi- I wish all good things to you!

I REALLY want this very cool cheese grater- too bad I can't remember where I saw it!


Thanks to Kelly, the grater can be found here!