Fish & Chips

Many eons ago, well okay April, my family visited this sweet little restaurant Organica.  I had heard from several ex-pat friends that it was a must try.  YUMMY!  So this is the standard my husband & I now hold our fish & chips.  While we were back in the states, Rick was afraid to order fish & chips at another restaurant for fear that they would not live up to the Organica brand.  Yes people, our favorite fish & chips joint is here in Kuwait!  And that last photo is of a deep fried mars bar.

Home Sweet Home

Kuwait, see you in a few weeks

goodbye NY

Allie & alpaca sharing a kiss

does this really need a caption?

B picking blueberries

J picking blueberries

blueberries at Homestead Farm

blackberries not quite ripe

running outside enjoying the scenery

running outside enjoying the scenery

The trip started off a bit rocky as we missed our connecting flight but it was great to be home in the states, even if it was the wrong state!  For the most part I was able to fight off the jet lag.  It seemed to be easier - thank goodness since our trip is not too long this time around.

So I started this post a few days after arriving & now it's the night before we leave.  There are  such bittersweet emotions of not wanting to leave but wanting to get back to "normal" life.  I'll post some more when I get a chance.  I know it's been awhile & I need to get back into the swing of blog things.  I have so much to share as we squished as much as we could in the less than 3 weeks we had.

I Did That?

Class: Fab Cab Ring class & kit @ LB O J'zazz  Blog Board: Sassy Designs

While taking this class, I realized how crazy it is that I had to move to Kuwait to find an appreciation & passion for seedbeads.  I've taken quite a few classes at LB O J'zazz learning new stitches & this was the first bead embroidery class for me.  My excuse was, "I don't have the patience to do that!"  Well, look what I did!  I have a few more pictures to take.  I've finished the side "sandwiching" the stiff stuff to the ultrasuede & it's so beautiful.  The band is the only thing left to complete.  I am so excited to wear this beauty!  My selection was the Golden Roses kit but I may have to go back & get the Turquoise one as well!

Thank you to Lubna & Bettina for sharing your talent, love & skill with us!

Note: Excuse the poor pictures.  I've "forgotten" how to use my simple point & shoot.  I'm lost without a viewfinder & my macro lens.

Happy Birthday

Happy 37th Birthday 8x10 canvas panel: acrylic, marker, ink, rub ons, glitter, vintage dictionary text

I marked my birthday with the creation of a new canvas for myself.  It is a great indication of where I am with my art right now.  It's playful & whimsical & completely me with the glitter, pink & crown. 

Happy Birthday Dad

The fam in St Augustine (minus my sis & lil J is in my belly)

Mom & Dad celebrating his birthday

Nice Hats

Nice Aprons

I tried to find some vintage photos, but didn't have any luck.  I scanned some last time I was home & have no idea what has happened to those files.  Bummer, I had some good ones.

Dad, I hope you have a wonderful birthday.  I miss being in the same country with you!  You are such a special dad & I miss being near you.  Looking forward to seeing you this summer.  I LOVE you!

Things I've Learned from Christy Tomlinson



WIP: 8x10 flat canvas panel Acrylic & Modeling Paste

1. Yellow is awesome!  And yellow & grey is just beautiful. 
2. I've been introduced to modeling paste & wondered why I haven't used it before.
3. It's okay if rub-ons & rubber stamps don't make a complete & perfect impression.  Really, it is!
4. I'm using stuff I've had in my stash for the first time.  Seriously, some of my cling stamps, embellishments & canvases were in the original packaging - for a year or two...
5. I must order more canvases stat!  With the canvas shortage I'm looking for new surfaces to attack beautify.  I have some birdhouses I bought last summer & they have not been touched.
6. I've found a use for dried up baby wipes!  They make awesome "paper towels" for cleaning brushes, stamps, fingers - all sorts of messes.
7. It has been liberating to be able to let go of the "perfectness" I feel should be in my art.  If I mess up, I work with it.  There's always gesso available as well :)

If you are looking for something to do, go join Christy's class.  You won't be disappointed!  As a matter of fact, I can't stop!

Home is Where the Heart Is

Being a military family, you move around a lot.  My husband & I joke about what we will do when we have to live in an area for more than 3 years - that has been our longest time frame in one area.  Our shortest was 8 months.  Prior to living in Kuwait we moved every year for 5 years, sometimes twice within a year.  The crazy life we lead, but it's ours!

Crystal's creation is on the left, my original is on the right.

Shortly after we got to Kuwait & settled into our life here, I decided to make a canvas, Home is Where the Heart Is.  I have all these little hearts of the places we've lived.  My sweet & creative friend Crystal made a comment way back when that she'd like one of those canvases for her.  Almost a year later we finally got together & made one.

Crystal & her new canvas

We spent the day chatting, laughing & creating.  I had to laugh at her FB post that she didn't know if she would be creative enough.  The joy of crafting with others is learning from them - you get a whole other perspective.  She even taught me a few things :)

Crystal's Home is Where the Heart Is - 10x10 gallery canvas - acrylics, inks, paper

Crystal is one of my friends leaving this year - she'll have a new heart to add.  While moving to different locations is a constant in this life we live, you never quite get used to it. 

If You Take One Class This Year...

I just absolutely love Christy Tomlinson & the She Art class.  I am just in love with the entire experience I have had.  Christy is a completely giving teacher, the class itself is well organized & jam packed, & my fellow classmates have been the bomb!

Debutante ~ WIP ~ 8x10 flat canvas panel ~ mixed media
Acrylic paints, Vintage book paper

Debutante  ~ 8x10 flat canvas panel ~ mixed media
Acrylic paints, Vintage book paper, decorative papers, German scrap, markers, ink


Christy is the ultimate teacher.  I have so much respect for her.  She teaches you her techniques then encourages you to find your own style & go with it.  Christy completely shares all her ideas & best practices.  She even shares her emotions & you see the passion she has for her art.  The cool thing about this class is you can be at any level of mixed media - beginner to advanced.  I am somewhere in between & this class has brought my canvases to the next level.  I haven't been afraid to experiment & I've been using all these art supplies I've bought (Codeword: hoarded) & never cracked open. 

Beloved ~WIP detail ~ 4x4 artist canvas ~ mixed media



Beloved  ~ 4x4 mixed media canvas
Acrylics, decorative paper,clip art, rub-ons, ink, rhinestones

Go check out the flickr group, the She Art Workshop, & take a look at what everyone has been creating.  It is amazing to see how everyone takes what she has taught & puts their own creative spin.  It's incredible to see the work of people that are newbies.  So if you're on the fence, get off it!!  If you take a look at her blog, she has a tutorial tab with some freebie instruction.  As a matter of fact, I was so excited waiting for the class I started my first canvas before the class even started.  I watched all her tutorials & picked up some ideas.  (My first canvas is at the top of the post titled Debutante)

Ex-Pat in Kuwait ~ WIP ~ 8x10 flat canvas panel ~ mixed media
Acrylic paints, Vintage book paper, Silk, ink

Christy also has an awesome store.  She offered the students a coupon to use & all the basics for the class can be found at one place.  May I make a confession?  I've already ordered 3 times from her (did I just write that for all the world to see, including my husband).  Honestly, if you are a craft hoarder like me you probably have most of the basic supplies.  Living in Kuwait, I found out who would ship to an APO (thank you joann.com) & have stockpiled on necessities.  I won't tell you what a stockpile of necessities I have on canvases alone.  Let's just say I've been stockpiling for almost a year & a half now!

Fashion ~ WIP ~ 8x10 flat canvasAcrylic paints, Decorative papers, markers, ink, embossing powder

Personally, I'm excited about what I've learned.  I want to make a canvas for myself with all of my titles (wife, mom, teacher, doctor, taxi driver...)  I'm excited to make some canvases with quotes & explore other imagery besides the art girls, which I've already started to do.  I'm hoping to turn some of these into teacher gifts - I think they are perfect!  I want to make mini canvases to put on cards.  I want to make canvases for my boys room.  Oh the list is endless. 

Fly ~ detail ~ 4x4 Studio Canvas ~ mixed media
Acrylic paints, Decorative papers, Marker, Ink, Rub-ons

So on the personal front, I didn't mean to be gone for so long.  I don't plan blog breaks & this one just happened.  I am actually still working through a tough creative time for me.  I was on such a roll then I just had to stop.  This class has helped me keep my creative juices flowing.  I don't know what happened, but I hit a wall on all fronts.  It's been frustrating but I'm working through it.  I know I still owe a few posts:  I need to still name the winner of OWOH & I was part of an incredible Valentines Day swap that I still want to get on here.  I promise to not be a stranger & to get those posts done this week.