I'm Back

Sometimes we have to do things in life that really suck. The past 2 weeks was one of those for me. My time was spent going through all my mother's possession's. Making the decision what should be kept and what will go in the estate sale. I have been putting this off since January, when I placed her in assisted living. Her home, my childhood home has been sitting there waiting for me. I felt guilty going through all her belongs, glimpsing at letter and cards she had kept. Sorting through photos. Some of people I had no idea who they were. Making piles of items to give to family and friends. For as long as I can remember my mother kept a journal. I had no idea that after my dad died, 17 years ago, she was writing letters to him every night. I only read parts of a couple of them, but enough to figure out what she was doing. I wept. I felt like I was invading her personal space. I may regret this later but I threw them out. She was a very private person and would have never wanted me or anyone else to see them.
I have brought home quilts that she she had made, old books, glass ware,old linens,antiques. I wish I could have brought more. But at one point I just had to detach from everything,or I would have been renting a semi to haul it all back. Not to mention a warehouse to store it all. My little house is bursting at the seams as it is.
Not only did I sort through everything. I also had the task of getting her house ready to go on the market. Crummy time to sell a house, but I don't want to be a landlord 500 miles away. My husband and kids were with me. They were a huge help. Stripping layers of wallpaper, painting, yard work and general cleaning. The estate sale is the weekend of July 26. I will not be there. I do not want to see the people that will be pawing through her beloved treasures. It was very hard for me to leave the house knowing that it would be the last time I slept there. 46 years she has been in that house. The sad part is, her mind has slipped so far back that she thinks it is her childhood house. She didn't know who my kids were. My heart ached, but they were so sweet with her and started telling her stories and brought out pictures of when they were little. Then she finally remembered.
Sometimes life just sucks.

I'm Out of Here

I'm leaving for California tomorrow. I will be gone 3 weeks. I have family matters that I need to attend to. At least it will be cooler.

Bees Wax Collage

So what would you do if it were 115 degrees outside? I'm sure the first thought that comes to mind is move to a cooler climate. Believe me if I could I would. 20 years in the desert and summers are getting harder to handle. I have told my husband that when I grow up I want to be a Snowbird. For those not familiar with the term Snowbird, it is someone who comes to live in the desert during the winter to get away from the snow. Once the snow melts, where every they are from they get the heck out of Dodge and leave us desert rats to sweat it out all summer and usually fall.
Okay I got off track. Well, what else would you do but melt wax, in a crock pot.
This is what I spent Sunday doing. I love Sundays. Hubby always golfs. Yes even when it is 115 out. That doesn't stop them. I have to admit that when they don't golf I'm a little disappointed. It messes up my whole routine.

Found this plaque at Michale's for .50 cents. A little paint , paper,wax and embellishments and presto

Heart in Hand. The heart and wings are a transparency with alcohol ink. Grunge board has also been waxed. It is hard to see the hand in the photo. I may have gotten to carried away with embellishments. Do you think? Click on picture to enlarge.I find I have to photograph them at an angle or I get a glare.
As much as I like the shabby chic look I just don't seem to pull it off very well. I'm just not a girly girl. But I loved the image of the girl and wanted to do something with her. The flowers and butterfly are cut out dipped in wax and then glued on. It gives a 3D look.

This is for a dear friend. The party umbrella I found in a parking lot. Before starting this great adventure of using found objects. I would have passed it by.
Again grunge board has been waxed. Large paper clip has had alcohol ink applied . A chopstick had been glued in place
Enjoy your week.

Blue Monday

This weeks color for Sadie Olive is blue. Quilt made by my mom for my son when he was a baby. He is now 18 and still uses it. This quilt was made with love and has had a lot of lovin. It has a few holes from being washed so many times. The dog chewed on it when she was a puppy. I have patched several times. Lots of warm memories stitched in this quilt.
Hope your week isn't all blue.

Shades of White

Sadie Olive is continuing her I saw red. Only this time she is doing Shades of Inspiration. This weeks color is white. If you go to her site she has a flickr set up for everyones Shades of Inspiration. What's your inspiration?

Meet Electra

Electra has made her appearance. Her hair are those things from a circuit board. lol My husband is rolling his eyes right about now. He has told me the names of these things but I never remember. Her arms are old spark plugs. The red thing is also from a circuit board.( More eye roll). Her flower basket is an old earring that had been my moms. Click on pic to enlarge, and see the glue that isn't dry. lol
Altered Tin.

It is so blasted hot. Is supposed to be in the 110's all week. Summer in the desert is upon us. UGH!!!!!!!! Hope it is cooler where every you are.

Bees Wax Mirror

This cheap wooden frame from Michael's had been sitting in the drawer for a couple of years. I finally figured out what to do with it. I used Tim Holtz Fragments, an assortment of images, old hardware. And of course my favorite bees wax. After gluing the images to the back of the fragments I went around the edges with alcohol ink. This just took away any clear edges that looked unfinished. Click on the pic to enlarge. The layers of paint, paper and bees wax are applied to the frame. The fragments are glued on last. Paper beads embellish the side. Of course I had to add waxed butterfly wings. In the center is placed a mirror. It is hard to photograph a mirror without getting a glare, so it looks black.
Here is the silverware family I have been playing with. The spoon on the right has had alcohol ink applied to it. I've been on alcohol ink roll lately.