Sunday, September 5, 2010

Goodies In The Mail & Paper Clay Starfish

Sometimes you meet someone & become BLOG BUDDIES! Linda of Itsy Bits & Pieces & I have been just such since the time I began my blog. She & I have visited each others posts & left each other many comments. The day I brought HUBBY home from the hospital after his open heart surgery I was getting some much needed down time cruising blogs while he slept & I had a sweet comment from Linda wishing us well & he a speedy recovery. I went to visit & return a thank you. While visiting I saw that she had some sweet French Flash Cards in her shop. Linda LOVES to hit garage sales, flea markets & resale shops & often has some great finds. When I commented on the Flash Cards she responded "let me send you some as a GIFT to cheer you while you are house bound for his recovery".
Well, the box arrived & in it she also enclosed this darling book.
The Flash Cards. some old BINGO cards, a vintage post card, a box filled with a card of beautiful Mother of Pearl Buttons (HOW did you know that is my favorite sweet friend?), a vintage earring & the cutest colloid cupid. I staged these items on a burlap bag from Les Sirenes Art Event & next to the sweet flower my friend Christine gave me at the event.

Aren't the cards amazing/ Mer "The Sea" And don't you love the cupid? In the photo above & below you can see him front & back. I can't wait to put him in a Valentine project. THANK YOU LINDA!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! Your kindness & generosity blows me away.
And the next shower of generosity & sweetness is from none other than my sweet friend & teacher (from Les Sirenes) Julie Haymaker Thompson. You can see us pictured together Hamming It Up after she taught our class. We made the most adorable Star Fish Headbands out of Paper Clay in her class(I'm wearing mine in the photo but, it's hard to see). I had never worked in paper clay & didn't really think I cared a thing about it. But, oh was I wrong!!!! Julie brought so many supplies & showed us how to put things together to create an adorable HIGH END finished piece. Look below for some examples.
Here is Julie's class sample.
And another one (similar to mine since I used the aqua color instead of the pink).
Here is another example that did not go on a headband. The starfish was painted & covered in GOLD Glitter for this look.
Aren't each & everyone of them beautiful & unique?


Well, I was having a little difficulty finding a SMALL STARFISH to make my own mold. I emailed Julie & ask her if she would sell me the starfish she had used to make the mold & she sent me a sweet email saying "she was OVER the starfish" & would be happy to send me her mold that she used to create all 50 she made for class (I can see how she could be "OVER" them can't you?). The mailman left a sweet little round box with this note to enjoy creating & the mold for my starfish.
The mold made with Fimo Clay. One thing that Julie stressed OVER & OVER in her class was for all of us to SHARE!!!!!!!!!! She stressed the importance of sharing your talent, information, sources, & ideas with other artists. She said if we would all adopt this theory the world of art would be an even more amazing place. She offered to share where she bought her supplies for the class, she shared techniques, she shared herself & her soul. WHAT AN AMAZING,GENEROUS, SWEET SOUL SHE IS!!!!! THANK YOU JULIE FOR THE MOLD BUT, MOST OF ALL FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP! I can't wait to take another class with you & to spend more time visiting like we did that Sunday in old town Orange, CA(over coffee at Starbucks).
I hope you will visit both of these generous gals! And tell them you heard about them from Charlene. I also need to say Thank YOU to many of you who continue to send Get Well Wishes & Support for Hubby & I. He is doing VERY WELL!!!!!!!! It is amazing how they can "Mend a BROKEN HEART"(not in the love but, actually the heart doesn't work right any more kind of broken) Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. I can't believe that summer has come & gone. I WISH THE HEAT WOULD GO!!!!!!!!!!!

15 comments:

Karen said...

Love this, love this, love this! Aren't bloggy buddies just the best?!!
Wuld you believe I found some OLD french flash cards last summer at an antique store in COlorado and LEFT them, because . . . well obviously! THEY WERE IN FRENCH! (whacking myself on the head here!) DUH!!!!
Love Julie - she taught at one of Kim's other events and she is a HOOT!
Love everything!
Hope hubby is making more and more progress each and every day!
I've sewed my 8 pages, now I just have to "bling" them out! :)
Big hugs my friend! Karen

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Aren't bloggers the very best, kindest, most generous people in the whole world. You don't have to know them in real life person to know them. They share their lives, dream, creative nature and their hearts so generously. You received some of the most precious gifts of love. What a treasure and this makes them so special. Hugs, Marty

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Awww...Charlene~ aren't you the sweetest...I'm so glad you liked the goodies! I hope they'll inspire some creative play and I'm so glad to hear your husband is doing so well! XO Linda

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I meant to tell you, too~ those starfish are really amazing! SO pretty!!

lilylovekin said...

Charlene, thank you for stopping by my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it. I enjoyed reading your post and seeing the creations my sister taught you. I'm glad to hear your husband is healing nicely and that things have gone well after such a major surgery. Take care. Lorrie

Lisa said...

Lucky you! I hope to take one of Julie's classes one day. I just adore her creations. Have fun with your goodies!

My Shabby Streamside Studio said...

I hope your man is healing well. I'm so glad you had the opportunity to make some pretties!

Thanks for sharing!

xxoxoo

Sandy @ My Shabby Streamside Studio
http://www.myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com/

Hearts Turned said...

Oh, what gorgeous stuff, Charlene! LOVE the starfish...and everything else! You've just had so much creative fun lately, haven't you?!

Love everything you've been sharing, my friend!

Hope you're having a wonderful holiday weekend...

Julie

Trisha said...

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving me a comment. I hope that your husband makes a speedy recovery! Looking forward to following you!!

~Trisha

Diane said...

What a beautiful post. What generous friends & teacher!
You are surely blessed my friend....
I am holding you in my prayers, and will give you a call when daylight comes....I am up (at 1am) as I cannot sleep!
Hope to see you in a couple of weeks =))
Love ya!
diane

Unknown said...

Now Rigth bakc at you!!! Thanks for shairng the love!!! Hugs Julie

The Vintage Housewife... said...

hello sweet gal! thank you for leaving a comment on my blog...you are one talented kitten!!!

No i don't know Lavern personally...but gal i know of her! I am a California sister and I am very very often called the California Lavern!!!So i thought it was so funny you asked!

On my very first sister campout...they named me...because they said she was sassy and stylish...which i am as well...so i know she is one fab gal!!!

I hope to meet her one day soon! What a hoot you left a comment about her...i loved it!!!! Thanks and so nice to meet ya!...huggs Cat

Alisa Noble said...

What sweet and wonderful packages! I hope you are enjoying some r&r this weekend!

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Blog friends are the best !
Stopping by to check on you and your Sweetie.
(())
Francie

Celestina Marie said...

Ho Charlene,
Love your wonderful gifts. Bloggy friends are the best. I also received some of those french flash cards in a giveaway last Spring too.

Thank you for stopping by my blog. So nice to meet you and visit your lovely blog. I so enjoyed it and now a happy follower too.

Have a great evening.
Hugs and Blessings, Celestina Marie

Related Posts with Thumbnails