pamgarrison

more flickr favs

more flickr favs
Originally uploaded by pamg.

Love flickr. Just wish I could move these photos around on the mosaic once they are favorited. Is there a way? On this mosaic I'd really like to mix the dark at the top up with the lights on the bottom a bit.

for local gals (so. cal)

My friend Stacey recommends that anyone in the area make the trip to  the Floral Park Home Tour (April 28,29) www.floralpark.com

She says there are beautiful homes and garden tours (for a fee) and an antique show (free) where she'll be selling her specialty bottles as well as other vintage goods. Have fun!

slight change in plans

Ok, the wallpaper packs are not going to be on etsy today. Sorry! Since there has been a lot of concern about missing out, I think I've come up with a better solution. I have been trying to put together 60 more packs (in progress above), made of 3 different designs. That way, there will be 5 different packs to choose from and more packs available overall. In order to pull it off, I need a little more time. I've totally put the handmade art on hold and am focusing on the paper packs, so I will be able to list them this weekend. I am going to list them Sunday evening/night. Hopefully, more people will be able to get them and that those that do will like having more selections to choose from. Thanks for understanding! I really think it will work out better this way. I know I hate missing out on limited items, trying to avoid anyone else feeling that way.

random update

Hey there. Been away too long, sorry about that. Here are some flowers from the garden. Whenever I'm down, cutting flowers always brightens my mood. Of course, the scent of the antique roses is heavenly, but the viburnum are my favorite this year. Here they are in close up.

They look like those paper flowers sold at scrapbook stores, so light and perfectly shaped.

I was fortunate to spend the night Saturday with two of my best college friends, laughing and chatting and feeling the years between now and then slip away. Easing the sadness from the tragic events last week, all while enjoying this view.

Gorgeous, right? We were in Pauma Valley, staying at my friends parents' home. So beautiful there. I miss them already.

I have been tagged as a thinking blogger, and  appreciate the fact that Hanne, Nicole say my blog makes them think. I'll have to think (ha ha) about five to tag, there are just soooo many.  Nancy tagged me too. Thanks for saying that my blog knocks your socks off Nancy! Bloggers are so generous with their support. Here are some roses from the garden for you, girls.

So, this is a craft blog, so how about some crafting? Honestly, I haven't been doing much. My back is insisting that I rest, so there has only been some light creating. I'm at the point now that I'm frustrated and feeling guilty about the things I can't do, which is a very good sign that I'm getting better. So... I did some simple simple playing with the chocolate boxes from Easter. Here they are before and after adding some wallpaper scraps.

You know how I love boxes, the smaller the better. And of course, love vintage wallpaper. I know you do too, so finally, new packs are really in the works!

I'm aiming at having them in my etsy shop (pamg.etsy.com) by Friday afternoon. One of the packs is all flocked! Oh my! I'm also going to have some other items, still working on them. Here's a sneak peek of some.

I also wanted to share some of the new things I've bought from our fellow indie crafters over on etsy.

An Easter egg from the witty and creative Cari Kraft. I had my daughter hold it so that you can tell how big it is. Perfect for the front door.

I haven't stopped wearing this gorgeous piece by my friend Amy Hanna. She still has a few pieces left from her last posting, but boy, they sure do get snapped up quickly. So you can catch a piece if so inclined, a little birdie told me that she's aiming for a new collection just before Mother's Day.

I also recieved this adorable frame from Corey Moortgat. Isn't she clever? She has many others available here. She's also back to blogging now that she's given birth to her newest baby and her book. Many congratulations on both Corey!

From Naoko over at etsy I bought this adorable ID Holder that I'm going to use for my ipod. Sooo cute.

Ok, must go back to heating and icing the back. -Exciting teaching news coming soon!

 

hi again

Amy sent me a photo of us at artfest vendor night. Here we are behind our table. Here's a photo of all the  buyers waiting for the opening bell. Can you see our sweet Misty and dear Nina?

I wish I had a photo of us with our adorable house mates, the Papayalicious girls. We were all house mates this year and last, and I adore them to pieces. This year, they provided me with the best artfest laughter I've had in the 6 years I've gone. Five grown women laughing hysterically as we drove around trying to find Syd so I could take her up on her offer of a medicated patch for my aching back. Pure silliness.

Speaking of my back, thanks again for all the healing thoughts. It's coming along slowly, but the important thing is that it's improving. Yesterday I was able to stand up somewhat straight for the first time in 4 weeks! Wahoo!

This is the only creative thing I did on our vacation. I know it's blurry and not beautiful, but it felt like such an accomplishment making do with no supplies in a rented condo-like using a drinking glass for a rolling pin. It was a welcome treat for everyone that spent the day on the slopes. Of course, I was pouting about missing out. I did enjoy watching the first two seasons of Entourage while starting some new paper packs though.

Here are a couple fun purchases to share. This is from Jenni Bowlin. Can't find enough vintage labels (and none that aren't red), these will be very fun in my journals or on packages.

And these bits of clip art are from Melissa McCobb Hubbell... oh Melissa, such lovely packaging details, thanks!

(Edited: Sandra Evertson and Dianne Stickley White also contributed crowns, and Kerri Judd and Danyel Montecinos are the authors.)

One last bit of news is this, a new book that I have contributed to. I'm excited to see that one of the three crowns I made graces the cover. (Don't know who's wearing it if you're wondering.) You can pre-order it here. I believe it will be available early September. I know that Kerri Judd and Danyel Montecinos have crowns in it, as well as Nicol Sayre, Ulla Milbrath, Barbara Schriber, Denise Sharp, Anna Corba, and Ashley Carter.  I am missing an artist or two, things change so much when people are contributing to books, but that's enough to wet your appetite! I can't wait to see what everyone's made, and hope you have a crown party Kerri and Danyel (hint hint) because I'd love to meet the other contributors. 

Ok, enough for now, have a great weekend everybody!   

My newest flickr favorites

My newest favorites
Originally uploaded by pamg.

ahhhh, sweet spring

getting back and getting my back back

Hi all. Got home from Artfest Sunday night and pretty much fell apart as soon as I hit the bed. My back had given me all it had to give at Artfest. Thanks for all the well wishes and advice. I'm learning. I'm getting better now. Thanks to all who asked how I was doing and offered to help. Amy was incredible and refused to let me carry anything which gave her the right to call me Quasimodo. I certainly couldn't have done it without her. A million thanks Am. Today I am finally up and about. So thankful for the healing that is allowing me to move again without randomly yelling out "ouch" or other less polite words.

Although I was pretty uncomfortable the whole time, Artfest was still amazing. It never fails to change me in some way. Meeting so many artists and curious, creative people, being in a place with 500 plus other creative types is such a gift. If you've ever thought about it, I'd say you should give it a go. All that said, it seems too much to recapture here. Because of my back, I traveled as light as possible. I didn't even bring my camera. All I have to show you is the things I bought on vendor night. Above you see:
vintage wallpaper, metal trim and pretty pastel monster for my daughter from LK Ludwig,
the airplane themed shadow box for my son from Stephanie Rubiano
old books from Dorit Elisha
old hardware from The Red Door Studio
and the encaustic collage from Stephanie Lee

Thanks to everyone who came up and said hi and sweet words of support about my art and specifically the blog. I really appreciate it. I was so touched by how much we are all in this together. This being the pursuit of creative living, our way, whatever that way may be. We have found and formed our own support systems here on the web and the connection is so important. Now, I can hardly remember how lost I felt when I didn't have blogs to check in with. I know I felt alone, but that feeling is long gone now. Thank you to all of you out there that write blogs, read blogs, and support creative journeys.

I'm off for another week now. We are going on a family vacation. After some much needed rest and play together, I'll be back to creating. I hope you and your loved ones have some special time to enjoy each other this week.

Oh, and someone asked me about last Easter. I know that the old archives don't come up on the sidebar, but they are still there. You have to click on the oldest archive month. Once there, at the top, you'll be able to go back to the previous month and do that over and over until you reach the month you want. I know that sounds confusing, if someone knows how to keep them all on the sidebar, I'd love to hear it.