At Long Last..... A New Post

  I can not believe I have not posted since last November!!!!!! I am now working part time at a wonderful boutique called Pretty Please. I'm still working at the gallery and painting whenever I get a moment AND last week glambaby #16 was born: Summer Haggarton!

 

and I have started a new art website at http://1-kelley-smith.artistwebsites.com/ . You can order canvas prints, prints on metal and such and greeting cards. I think this will be great and the quality is very, very good. I am going to try to catch up a little with my family photos, etc. Thanks to everyone for hanging in there with me.  XO

The Jackson Glamchildren came to stay....

 A couple of weeks ago, my Gourmet Girls went to Utah for 2 weeks to do research for their catering company and it was my pleasure to babysit the Jackson boys for a week. One of the "life skills" that I think is soooo important is paper mache. Need I say more. The kitchen was a mess the whole week (and the next week when I babysat the Giffin kids) but is was fun and well worth the effort as you can see! These boys waited eagerly between drying layers and layers of paper mache over inflatable beach balls.

When the paper mache was drying, the boys played video games, I introduced them to the old "Twilight Zone" TV shows on Netflix and we played laser tag. Laser Tag was intense!!!!! I sure do love these glamsons of mine!

Book Shelf Color

I was "skype-ing" with my daughter Devan last night and she showed me how she rearranged the books on their shelves according to color. I was impressed and asked her to email a few photos so that I could brag. Here they are! "Fruit Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree"! (when I'm down or bored or ambitious, I organize and then all is right in the world.) Well done Devo!

Children and Adult Kerchief Pattern

A good fellow from church asked me if I could make some "bibs" for the special needs kids that are in his class at the school where he teaches. He said that the kids do not like the word "bib" as they are not babies. There is also a great need for these KERCHIEFS in elderly care facilities too. So I made a pattern from the sample that he gave me. Here it is: 1. Take a page from your local newspaper and unfold it. From one corner, measure and mark 20" to each side.

2. Then fold the two 20" marks together and draw a line that is 90 degrees from the marks to the folded end. Mark and cut along this line. This will give you a triangle with two sides that are 20" with the longest end measuring 28 1/2" long.

3. Cut one piece of cotton fabric.
4. And cut one piece of terry cloth fabric. (The terry cloth will absorb spills and an occasional drool) I was able to cut 8 triangles out of a beach towel that was on clearance for the terry cloth fabric. It was much cheaper that buying the fabric by the yard.
5. With right sides together, sew a 1/2" seam all the way around leaving a opening of about 8".

6. Cut off the corners and turn the kerchief right side out.

7. Top stitch 1/8" to 1/4" all the way around the kerchief. (strait stitch or any decorative stitch)

8. Cut 3" of Velcro and sew onto the kerchief so that it is adjustable and easy to take on and off.
The Kerchief is reversible. I tried to find basic colors that were not gender specific. I think that this is a fabulous service project that you can work on alone, as a family or use as a beginner sewing project. It's also fun to hang out with girl friends and sit, sew and visit for a good cause. I know that you will have no problem finding a facility that needs these kerchiefs desperately. If you don't know of one, I'd be glad to help you get them where they need to be.

Bragging Rights: "Into the Woods"

As some of you know, our daughter Chelsea has done a bit of performing in the musical arts. She graduated from ASU while filling out her graduation gown with her first baby due not too long after. She starred as "Evita" with the Flagstaff Light Opera company, performed with a Sedona Theater troop and while she was little, was in numerous plays with the Valley Youth Theater and other local youth theater groups. (I can't even begin to tell you how many sets I have helped paint, costumes sewed, and tickets bought with 5 daughters who like the thrill of being "on stage". I don't know where they got that from! ha-ha) ANYWAY, last night was the opening night of "Into the Woods" performed by the Maricopa Community Theater. This is only the second play done by the new theater group. The budget is small, but the talent is not. Needless to say, Chelsea was AMAZING. (I know, I am her mother, but you should see for yourself!)

And just as sweet, was the company of our oldest and dearest friends who have willingly and lovingly supported our family by enduring countless choir shows, softball games, etc. AND saying that they loved being there. I should not forget my Mom, who I don't think missed a choir, band or sport performance as well, in the past 50+ years from my own childhood to my children's and glamchildren's activities.

I LOVE the fact that my girls still enjoy one an other's company... and I am "TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM" in the photo below. (I usually pick the picture that I look best in, but it is getting harder and harder to do. Oh well. stupid getting old business...)
We love you Chelsea! And we are so proud of your guts to put yourself out there, and we are doubly proud to watch you use this incredible talent you have been blessed with for good. XO

Lucky I found the correct way to sit, stand and pivot on "Velma's Fabulous 50's" today. Gotta go practice now!

Give a Day, Get a Day...YEAH!

As you have probably seen on TV, Disneyland is giving away free tickets if you give a day of volunteer service. We signed up to clean up a Zoo in Prescott. AND it snowed!!!

First, we registered at a local church and watched a program about Martin Luther King day and how it has turned into not only a national holiday, but a day set aside to give back to the community. It was good. ANYWAY, we then went to the zoo. We were asked to take down the Christmas lights and to trim and haul away dead foliage from all around the park. So I was picking up a bunch of branches and walking further into the open field. All of a sudden I heard a growl. I looked up and there less that 3 feet away was this tiger ready to pounce! I had no idea I had gotten so close to the fence and even what cage I was by. It was so scary and exciting at the same time!

All our kids helped with taking down the lights and picking up prickly branches. Below is Slade unwinding the lights off a fence.
Nash and Blue found some really big branches by the lamas. It was so fun to get to be so close to the animals!
Xander sat on Glampa's shoulders to take down the lights of the entrance building.

At break time, Remi tried to eat an apple almost as big as her head.
And this picture is for Hilari. She is always so happy when I post photos of her wonderfully crazy husband. Gotta love that guy!
We were FREEZING!!! But we had a great time being together and cleaning up the Zoo. FUN!

Food, Inc.

I watched the movie Food, Inc. last night. WOW! My family has been trying to eat more healthy lately and for me the statement "ignorance is bliss" (on the subject of eating) was the position I took for a long time. In the last year I have learned more and the statement "knowledge is power" is taking over. It's time for a change...for me personally and for the food industry.

That's my two cents for today.

The Giffin's Swimming meets...

My "Giffin" Glamchildren are taking swimming lessons and are on the swim team. Twice a week they compete with other pools around the valley. It is such fun to see them swim in relays and show off their diving skills.(at each meet, their Aunt Mel gives them each a dollar for treats. She spoils them rotten, but you can never have too many people that love you!) I am a very proud Glamma...

Learning to Like Myself

Usually I do not share my inner most feelings on my blog, but I found this story that really made me feel inspired and loved. I struggle with feelings of self worth as most everyone does. My biggest goal as of late is learning to like myself even when I am not making something "fabulous", when I am just "being" me.

This is a story of a young piano student. His mother, wishing to encourage him, “bought tickets for a performance of the great Polish pianist, Paderewski. The night of the concert arrived and the mother and son found their seats near the front of the concert hall. While the mother visited with friends, the boy slipped quietly away.
“Suddenly, it was time for the performance to begin and a single spotlight cut through the darkness of the concert hall to illuminate the grand piano on stage. Only then did the audience notice the little boy on the bench, innocently picking out ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’
“His mother gasped, but before she could move, Paderewski appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And then, leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.
“In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear, time and time again, ‘Don’t quit. Keep playing.’ And as we do, He augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created. He is right there with all of us, telling us over and over, ‘Keep playing.’ ”

So I am trying to "keep playing", moving forward in my quest to be a better person and to be that girl that I was meant to be...

My Dolled Up Flea Market Basket

This week I have been sewing like a wild woman. When I set up my machine, I try to get a lot of projects done, as even though I have a "sewing room", there is really no room to sew in it. It is really a quest room where I store all my sewing stuff. I still sew in the kitchen like I used to at the other house. Anyway, I have wanted to line my basket to hold treasures found at Swap Meets for a long time, and now was the time to do it!

I used left over material from the bedding I made for our quest room. The cover is from a remnant from the curtains I made out of these wonderful tablecloths that I got for 90% off last year at Bed,Bath and Beyond. The table cloths where 120" long and the fabric is really nice. They worked out perfectly.

I used more tablecloth remnant to make this pocket to hold a memo pad and pencils, my notebook of measurements of my home's windows, rooms,etc. and of course the ever useful tape measure when I am on the hunt. Boy, I never would have imagined how useful the math skills that I learned in school would be in all the artsy/crafty things that you do in life. Yeah for math and remnants!!!

Robots for Saturday...in the making.

This in one of the "Robots" I'm making for the decorations and background for "photo shoots" for my baby girl's birthday party this Saturday. The head is the globe we use at Halloween for the fortune teller. the "feet" is the packaging for some "baby bottle nipples" that were on clearance for 25 cents . I used one nipple for the "eye" on the globe. I went to the $1 store for everything. The back of the robot is also packaging from a toy gun that I sprayed silver for my husband's costume. (I'll show you when I get that part done). Devan planned the Space Age themed party. It's her 22nd birthday, and there are no signs of limiting the birthday party experience for this girl yet. (I just don't know where she gets it.) She asked if she could have the party at my house, so naturally, ideas for decorating ideas stormed in my head.

Sometimes, the creative process is a blessing and a curse to me, as once I get some inspiration, I can not stop thinking about the possibilities to make the event, object, whatever out of my mind. I loose sleep and the only thing that gets those creative waves out of my mind so that it can rest is the old "Andy Griffith" shows (in black and white only, please, when the show went to color, the magic was gone).... ANYWAY, as I work on "whatever", the closer I get to the finish line, I have to start editing because of cost, time, etc. and it is always a little disappointing for me that the full vision did not really come through.

Although, the real enjoyment is in the process... (The brain turning over and over in trying to find a solution to a problem, or one thought leading to another, turning into a fabulous idea that wouldn't have ever come out at the onset in the creative process.) Sometimes I think it would be nice to be "normal" - no need for all this energy taken away from..Oh reading a good book, or cleaning the house, or very important...exercise.

So, I am constantly in search of keeping BALANCE in my life, tee tottering between what makes me blissful and what needs to be accomplished (general living stuff). And in the end, the two sides of living ARE where real JOY sets in. I am never truly happy when I only "make stuff", I need to keep things organized, clean and allow my brain to acquire the wonderful knowledge that one finds in all those great books that are available. And when I exercise, I feel better about myself as I feel like I am somewhat self disciplined. In the end, Life is good.

A Right of Passage...

All of our grandchildren have gone through Grandpa Fabulous's tutelage of the "Right of Passage Trick". The babies always love being "balanced in the air at a standstill" till they decide to sit down into Grandpa's arms. It scares the bejebees out of the women in the family (particularly the babies mothers), but all the "Men" (older and younger) seem to think it's an ordinary, common event that happens in the lives of the little people coming into our fun and sometimes (most times) crazy family.... in sorts, "A Right of Passage".

PS No babies have ever been dropped,hurt, or scarred in Grandpa Fabulous's trick... (knock on wood.)

I am a proud Glamma!

Today I got to go to Blue's school to attend an award presentation. The school is stressing "Life Skills" and each class had about 6 children who received a certificate for an outstanding achievement in a life skill. Blue got the award for responsibility. I asked his Mom "Was this because he always turns in his homework or something like that?" She said "Well, you know Blue..." And it's true, this young man takes great efforts in doing "the right thing" and taking responsibility for his actions. I am so grateful that my fabulous grandchildren can go to wonderful schools that are actively teaching "Life Skills" along with the basic three "R's" and that they are fortunate to go to church each Sunday to learn how they can be the people that they were meant to be and to know the difference between right and wrong. I know it is hard for parents to cover everything that their children need to know and learn. I'm not a huge Hilary Clinton fan, but I heartily agree with "It takes a Village" to raise our children properly. So a big SHOUT OUT to all the teachers (and that really means to all of us) who take responsibility in helping the young to know what is right and how to be good, honest, NICE, and responsible adults.