Starfish MAGIC!

My birthday present from sweet Sandy arrived & when I opened it I SQUEALED with delight when I saw this AMAZING Starfish! She KNOWS how I adore all things coastal & when my BDay was approaching she went on a quest…

I LOVE the uniqueness of this treasure. From the candlestick base (with aged BLING) to the watch face & the added BLING at the base. I had sent Sandy on a shell box seeking mission a few weeks back(California so had better selections that landlocked Texas) & I used some of those as my backdrop for this shot. Sandy said she was in desperate hunt mode when she & Robin hit Christie Repasy’s show Vintage Market Place in Rainbow, CA. They went through the whole show & didn’t find what she wanted. She said “I promised Robin we would leave after I made one more pass through all the booths”. AND THIS IS WHAT SHE FOUND…

A fabulous booth by Debbie of Blossom Vintage Chic!

Beautiful treasures at every turn. And right in the middle…

A closer look…

Sandy said she almost missed it!!!! OH NO!!!!!! I can tell you that this little beauty is HARD to photograph to it’s amazing potential!!!! Debbie used such creativity to put this together! None of the photos (mine or Debbie’s) do it justice.

In my master bathroom I have a ledge over my garden tub & in this little nook I have my Sea Treasures. At night I love to light the candles & enjoy my different little jewels. Below is a little glimpse of the selections by day.

I’ll share a few close ups…

Left top is my shell bird house, Top right is a stunning piece of china with shells that I found in Round Top, also on top of the glass jar is my head band (with starfish) that I made at the Kim Caldwell's Art Event Les Sirens' in summer of 2010, bottom left my mermaid, & bottom right is the coastal bird nest that Sandy gave me for Christmas. That artists’ name is Vicki Boster & you can visit her HERE!

My little vintage French lamp shade on that candlestick lamp is so shabby wonderful & I ADORE the HUGE Starfish I purchased from Vignette's Antique (in San Diego, CA)thank you Lori you & the store ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!! And speaking of treasures from Lori…

Love both of these & you can see the base from my Starfish from Sandy. LOVE the patina on it!

I’ll leave you with the nighttime view. Pretty isn’t it?

THANK YOU SANDY for your thoughtful gift. Thank you Debbie for your creativity, thank you Lori for having treasures to ship to this landlocked mermaid stranded in a 107 degree Texas summer…

It’s just me dreaming of the central California Coast & wishing I was there!

HUGS! Charlene

When You Celebrate Your Birthday All Month Long… Are You Older?

I LOVE the image of the girls on my BDay card from sweet Sandy. This seems to capture the essence of how I felt each & every time I was wished Happy Birthday. The happiness & giddy feeling you get when you spend time with someone who “GETS YOU”!

My birthday was June 1 & the celebrating began (& contines with lunch this Friday with my gal pal Jan… A WHOLE MONTH of BDay) with some of my girlie pals coming into town for The Gilded Life Event. I picked Sherry up at the airport & we headed to Dallas to hook up with Lulu & Kim. They treated me to lunch at one of my favorite places called Celebration Restaurant. I guess I’m not doing too bad for ALL THOSE BIRTHDAY’S!

I was a silly girl & forgot my camera but, Sherry got some good shots (thanks sweetie!). That is Lulu & I just huggin like we hadn’t seen each other in 4EVER (we were roomies in March/California for Moulin Rouge Art Event) I just hated that we didn’t get a GROUP shot of the 4 of us! WHAT WERE WE THINKING?

I wanted to show you the necklace that Lulu created for my birthday… MERMAID…. Can you imagine that? She knows how much I love my mermaids & she made a bolo style necklace with the most amazing mermaid bead as the focal point. Mixing in the silver & pearls. THANK YOU SWEET GIRL! Be sure & go HERE & see some more of her beautiful work. I’ll warn you though… don’t let that innocent face fool you. She’s a HOOT & LOVES all the spooky things in life (Halloween) in fact, she just came back from Spooky Time Jingle Convention.

And the frothy beauty of that scarf (with tiny flecks of silver that wink as they catch the light) is the first thing that Precious Sherry sent to me. And that ring… SHE KNEW how I loved the black, Bling & pearls… See how it would have matched the outfit I was wearing at lunch? She was so cute & said “I have to mail your gift because it hadn’t arrived when I left to come to Dallas. IT’s probably sitting on my porch right now" Below is a photo of beautiful Sherry who’s a true southern girl that’s as pretty inside as she is out. Thank you Sherry I’ll think of you each time I wear these.

Kim also came bearing gifts but, I’m saving hers for a post for Pink Saturday. Bet ya can’t guess what color it was.

I have to mention that sweet Cindy got me an adorable lace top & we have a “Girls Day” planned to embellish it (she got herself one too & we want to just kick them up a notch). My friend Susan came up last week to visit from Houston & brought me some tiny but, stunning pearl earrings that just didn’t photograph well. I guess I’ll have to share those sometime when I’m wearing them. MS SANDY outdid herself & that is also ANOTHER POST TO COME! But, as I said to each of these precious souls… THE GIFT OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS WHAT I TREASURE MOST! And my favorite saying is

God gives us our families but we choose our friends!

And I have some great ones! Thank you to each & everyone of you!

HUGS! Charlene

Pretty Pink from Cassandra for Pink Saturday

Hello my sweets!!!! Sorry I’ve been MIA in Blogland but, I have had company & then some more company… And while I’ve been out eating & playing I’ve missed my friends here. I had my precious friend Susan here for 5 whole days & we had a blast! But, let’s show you some Pretty Pink for Pink Saturday!

Back in March while attending Moulin Rouge Art Event in California (by the fabulous Kim Caldwell) I won the door prize given by Cassandra of An Artful Adventure. And this stunning box is full of TREASURES! Wonderful lace & old fiber treasures! THANK YOU Cassandra! I love them all but, just can’t make myself use any of it!!!! Look how she stuffed it full of millinery flowers, old lace, tatting, shinny fibers… all calling calling calling to me! But, for now it’s all in my guestroom on the dresser where when I pass I see the beautiful pieces of BLING winking at me.

I did get some of the coastal goodies I ordered from Lori last week & I ADORE THEM!!!! Also come back soon to see photos of some of the sweet presents sent to my by some of my buddies for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. And I hope you will go & join Beverly & the other girls playing in the Pink! Just click the button to link to them.

Stay cool & enjoy your weekend.

HUGS! Charlene

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!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Trails To You... An Adorable Gift from Sandy

Remember these boots (BDay gift from Hubby -see June 1 Post)? Remember Sandy Navarro? One of the BLESSINGS of all blessings from attending HeArt of Communion Art Event put on by The Gilded Life at "The Church" (home of Debbie & Shea). I met sweet Sandy at this event & although she lives hundreds of miles away in California (how does it happen that Sooooooooooooooo many of my buddies live out there?) we talk often & are developing an amazing friendship.

She sent me this adorable purse for my birthday. And she made that precious card to the left of the purse. When she saw the boots she said she KNEW I NEEDED this purse.

Yep, wrapped in red tissue & snuggled in that brown crinkle set this little bit of WESTERN BLING!

Here's a close up of the front. On the back it says "Happy Trails To You Until We Meet Again"

The other Cowgirls will be pea green I'm sure. So girls... What are you wearing? This jewel is metal & round. And TINY! Just enough room for 1.Keys 2. Credit Card (cash) 3. Lipstick and 4. Cell Phone. What else does a girl need? WHY do we insist in carrying the kitchen sink?

My precious card that Sandy made that reads "SO YOU'RE GONIN WITHOUT ME" Have a blowout time at Paper Cowgirl.

The card just sits perfectly in the bottom of the purse. I do believe that this needs a couple of coats of resin & to be permanently attached. So, every time I see it... I THINK OF SWEET SANDY! Girlfriend, it'll be just like you're there with me. THANK YOU for your generous, FUN gift but, most of all... for the gift of your friendship. And that goes to so many of you out there. My friends (& I consider so many of you friends) are so important to me. Happy Trails!

Happy Birthday to Me !

These boots were made for walkin... Well, that's what the song said. I had read a post on my friend Deryn's blog a few weeks after ADORN ME & she was telling how she had fallen in love with not ONE pair of Cow Girl Boots but, TWO! And how she bought them both(& I just read she found a vintage pair so that's THREE). I LOVED the Teal colored ones she got & sent her an email/comment on her blog that I wanted new boots too. Not long after that Hubby & I were down in Brenham, TX & while browsing in a cute little Western/Design Shop I spotted a pair of boots that I totally fell in LOVE with. They had a HEART & WINGS! And I love both of those things so this was a total meant to be!

But, they didn't have my size (yes, size HUGE). The person helping us found out that the boot was made in my size & that a store in the Stockyards in Ft Worth had a pair.

When I got up this morning..... I HAD A PAIR!!!!!!

What do you think Deryn? And of all things, I MIGHT be going to College Station to take a Resin Class with Deryn this weekend. Want to guess what I'm wearing? And won't they be grand for Paper CowGirls Art Event in June (check 2 posts back for information on that if you don't know about this fun Texas Event). And the boots were just a surprise gift... Look below for the BIG GIFT! I'm fainting & screaming with happiness!!!!!!!!

This gift is THE ONE that I had on my list for #1 most wanted thing for my Birthday.

As anyone who knows me well KNOWS I LOVE MERMAIDS! I always have but, after falling in love with the Central Coast of California last year this has become an obsession! And when I saw the Artistic Affaire LeSirenstalked about on Kim Caldwell's beautiful blog I wanted to go so badly. But, I had just returned from Petticoats & Parasols in Savannah & didn't think I could ask to go to LA, California & another expensive but Soul Inspiring Art Event. When sweet Hubby asked "what do you want for your birthday" I sheepishly replied "truth" & he said "Of course" to which I said "to go to LeSirens Art Event" I had to explain that one but, once he got past the name He said "OK" SOLD! The next day I went to Kim's site & signed up. By the way, she is closing registration this week & there are only two spots left so if you are interested in joining me hurry over. Once again, I can't believe I am blessed enough to be able to go & I am simply OVER THE MOON WITH EXCITEMENT!

Sweet Christine from Dollybelles (you met her in my posts from Savannah) is hosting a Mermaid Necklace Swap that I am so excited about. We are to make 7 ribbon flowers & send those plus some bits & bobbles (mermaid based of course) we have & she will combine six different swap partners items together & create a ONE OF A KIND necklace for each of us! THANK YOU SWEET CHRISTINE!

And then there is this adorable button to add to my side bar because Joy & her roommate Terri are hosting a cocktail party in their room which sounds ever so FUN! Mermaid Martini's oh I can't wait!!!!! I love the art work & think I need a shirt with this on it.

Now, I want to share a couple of cute things I had found about aging... all in the fun of this birthday you have to look at things in the RIGHT PERSPECTIVE! Hope you get a chuckle out of these as I sure did.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1. You believe in Santa Claus.

2. You don't believe in Santa Claus.

3. You ARE Santa Claus (in my case Mrs. Claus).

4. You look like Santa Claus (again... Mrs. Claus).

SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is... having dry pants.

At age 12 success is... having friends.

At age 17 success is... having a drivers license.

At age 35 success is... having money.

At age 50 success is... having money.

At age 70 success is...having a driver's license.

At age 75 success is... having friends.

At age 80 success is... having dry pants.

Since we are taking care of Hubby's 87 year old Dad with Alzheimer's I KNOW how very true this last one is. It is funny when you read it but, oh so very true & sad. So, since I am pondering my age today & reflecting on how wonderful my life is & so very full of blessing... I just want to say THANK YOU to my precious Husband for the gifts he gives me every day. For his love, his laughter, his kind & giving generous heart. And to each of you my friends that share my loves, life, interests, & adventures. I look forward to another year of sharing fun & ideas with each of you.