"Fairies in a Jar" Girls Night

We made "Fairies in a Jar" tonight at my house. Here are about half of the gals with their fairies in various degrees of progression.

Here's the next photo after I gave them hints that I used to teach in a "Taking Better Photos" class ages ago when scrapbooking started becoming popular. You know, I scrapbooked before it was even Cool! (notice the beautiful girl forth from the right, of course she's my daughter and doesn't think she needs the "posing lesson" for the hundredth time!!!!

Here's Lindsey with her "Fairie in a Jar" ALL of the gals did such a great job. I was so happy that everyone's turned out fabulously! I just wish I had taken pictures of all the gals that made Jar Fairies. This was only half of the ladies, it all just got a little hectic. Don't you just LOVE a craft night out with the girls!

Half Dolls and.........

I found this Half Doll in an antique mall in El Cajon, Ca. two years ago during our annual camping trip at the beach. I just love her! Also, I've had a few people ask me what exactly are Half Dolls, so I googled it and found this:



"Half dolls are just that--generally, the upper half of a human figure, without legs. Half dolls were produced without legs so that they could be attached to something useful--very commonly, pin cushions, but also wisk brooms, tea cozies, and numerous things that could grace a ladies dressing table, such as powder boxes.
The vast majority of Half Dolls were produced between 1900 and the 1920s, although some were produced earlier than that and some later. Some half dolls are still reproduced today.
Most half dolls are between 2 and 6 inches tall, although there are smaller and also a few larger examples.
Half dolls are generally made of porcelain (glazed bisque, sometimes called china) although there are also models made in unglazed bisque." from: Denise Van Patten - collectdolls.about.com

Here are some Half Dolls that I painted myself when I went to a few doll classes with my Mom.

And here are a few more. I have a stash of beautiful antique lace and ribbons, pieces of raw silk and tiny, tiny buttons...All waiting for me to transform these Glam Gals into Fashionistas. Oh, if I only had a few more hours in the day!
then, while taking photos of the Half Dolls today.... WHAT DID I DO?!!!!!! I accidentally knocked over my FABULOUS little jewelry box that I found in a thrift store. (My heart sunk for a moment) The box had a few pieces of jewelry already on it when I bought it, so I added some that I had inherited from my Grandmother Bochman. (only the broken pieces of course) Oh well, I've got to get my glue box down and get to "fixin"!

(Those who know me, know that one of my great Motto's in my Life is... "Oh well...." In order to stay "sane" I have to "Oh Well" A LOT and then go on. Fix what you can, and then remember the only really important things aren't things but people.)

Ready for a WEIRD story?!!!

So my Mom was going over all these old photos from my Grandma Beger's and telling me the "who, what and where's" last Sunday and we came across this photo of some of my Grandma's work associates. Anyway, the gal seated who is smiling into the camera (and the one next to her) were her friends also). So this gal had a "knob", a "little bump" on her forehead forever. Well, one day it started bothering her so she picked at it. And a small hair kind of came to the surface. Well, as She pulled at the hair to pluck it out, and it just started pulling out longer and longer. The hair was just a little over 12 inches long till it reached its end and was able to be plucked out!!!!!

That "knob" had been an ingrown hair follicle all that time! CRAZY!

(Did your stomach turn a bit and your right eyelid unconsciously flutter as you thought about that hair coming out like mine did?!!!)

((I'm going to go right now and look in the mirror to see if I have any "knobs"...))


(((I can't get that hair out of my mind! I need to go watch some "mindless" TV for a while, that usually does it. I don't think singing a hymn to myself would work this time....)))

Beautiful "Half Doll" Birthday Gift

My Mom and Sister came over for dinner last night and my Mom surprised me with an early birthday present. She made this FABULOUS half doll for me. She did everything from cleaning the bisque, painting the porcelain, to sewing the body and amazing dress!

She is always quite concerned about choosing just the right fabric, notions and detail for each doll she makes, and it shows. I am just THRILLED to add this doll to my half doll collection. Every time I look at her I will remember my 50th birthday. (maybe that's not so good....) Oh well, what can you do... THANKS MOM! I LOVE YOU!

Family Resemblances

A couple of weeks ago my Mom let me borrow a box of photos and documents that belonged to my Grandmother Beger. I have been scanning and cropping till my eyes hurt. But the aching "tennis, but really Bowling elbows" and soar eyes is all worth the trouble. I came across this photo (above left) of my grandma and saw my grandson Nash! He is the only grandchild so far to have dark eyes and now we know where he got them from!

It has been so much fun finding "My People", and finding that "Fruit really doesn't Fall Far from the Tree"

More Glam-Baby "Jar Fairies"

Lest I forget my Fabulous Simplehappy BFF's grandchildren (who I like to call my own), Jar Fairies. I actually made theirs first as I wanted to give them to them before they left AZ. Unfortunately I only photographed them in the jars, and the images just didn't turn out as well. I made Miss Dubb's fairy in black and white, it is a lot cuter in person, as is she...

And the sweet "Lil Gee". He is the one of the most attractive babies I've ever seen. (You should see his Mom and Dad!) I don't get to see him very much, but I know all about how wonderfully talented, smart and darling He is thru is "real" Grandma.

Grandchildren are like potato chips, There is ALWAYS room for MORE!!!!!

My Jar Fairies

I decided to finally make some "Jar Fairies". They have been a rage the last few years and as a little girl I would always like to imagine that I was very small and think about walking among the huge grass leaves and flower umbrellas. I still do. (above) Sloan Xander did not like the term "fairy", it was too girly. (I was relieved to hear his reason, as I didn't want him to use the word another way) So the boys are all Gnomes.
Here's Nash. He always poses in the most natural GQ way...
Remi is so conscious about posing that she's all over the place. She's a princess thru and thru.
I used this photo of Ava from her "3rd Birthday Tea Party"
It was so funny when I was finding the right photo of Blue. He cocks his head to the right whenever He is standing in front of a camera! It was crazy to see all the photos I have of him in just this same position!
Slade is my sweet guy who still wants to kiss me hello and goodbye, and still likes hugs and sitting close. (Nash is also) It makes me a little sad as the boys get older and are self conscious about the affection, but it also makes me joyful to see them becoming "themselves". Thankfully, they still like to do things with me, and know that I'm a sucker at the movies. (they LOVE those "Kid Packs")

Cruz is just toooo cute. Those curls are just like his mothers.
Baby Carma is just holding her head up, so the photo opportunities have just begun. It looked odd to have her as big as the other grandkids, so I just put her in a flower.

All the Grandkids love looking at their Gnomes and Fairies. I just call these fun things 3-D Scrapbooking (which is a lame word for Family History) ((I almost hate to use the word scrapbooking anymore, it doesn't do justice for the art of preserving our memories, boosting self-esteem of family members, and anchoring ones roots and helping them to know who they are and why we are here)) (((Soap-boxy, but how I feel)))