April's Birthday Celebration!

Sometimes it seems like all we do is have give aways and celebrate birthdays!  It was April's turn to be feted for her birthday this time.  We met at a restaurant in Astoria for breakfast and the opening of gifts.  As you can see, April is looking mighty pleased with the array of gifts assembled around her!

What is this?  A look of dismay upon receiving yet another sock monkey?  She never should have told us she doesn't like sock monkeys, heheh....

The Laurel Burch tea pot cheered her right back up.
After breakfast we went over to the art supply shop where April was able to purchase many of the items on her shopping list including a mixed media blank journal and several pens she needed for the lettering class she is taking from Joanne Sharpe online.

Pinky and Mary were enjoying themselves just as much as April was.  We seem to agree that it is equally fun to watch the others open gifts as it is to receive them.

After the art supply store we hit the thrift shop, JoAnn's craft store, Staples, Home Depot, the Dollar store and finally another restaurant to have a late lunch.  We were exhausted after all that shopping!  After replenishing our strength it was on to the Goodwill store where we finished up for the day.

They don't exactly look exhausted though, do they?

All in all it was another fun day for our intrepid shoppers and birthday girl.  Next week we will be back to some art work.  Jan is planning to conduct a background painting workshop so stay tuned for that.  And don't neglect to check out our newest give away that was posted in the previous post here.  We will choose the winner for that one next Tuesday and will still have 3 more give aways after that!  We love to share the joy we have in each other and in our creativity.

Third give away! Sign up now!!

This one is donated by Pinky.  She is a great scrapbooker and card maker and has been very generous in picking things out of her stash to give away.

Who could resist an alcohol inked domino and a mini troll?

She has included some of the gorgeous cards she makes.

Cool embellishments, brand new in the package!

All these things will be wrapped up in this pretty bag.
So leave a comment on this post and we will pick a winner next Tuesday, the 17th.  Good luck!

Lisa Brawner of Tribal Horse Desigsn Won Our 2nd Give A Way!!!

Lisa won the give a way and all I need now is her address. I emailed her to ask for it. Congrats Lisa!!! KEEP WATCHING FOR THE NEXT ONE TO FOLLOW SOON.

Friday Fun With Silk Dyed Eggs...

Today was spent mostly in the kitchen, so I decided to dye some eggs while I was cooking other things for Easter and tomorrow's crab feed here at our house. I saw on pinterest.com how a lady had dyed Easter eggs with silk ties. I was thinking of going to the thrift stores here and trying to get some. Then...I remembered that I had been collecting scarves with the idea I would wrap presents in them. At garage sales, you can get them for 25-50 cents. I brought them down, picked out the ones I thought were silk, and used them. About 4 of them did not turn out (probably not silk) and this is the results of the other 6. Some of the scarves were marked "silk" and others had no tag. I would recommendthe scarves as you get much more fabric out of each one.

I did repin the directions to these on my pinterest.com site under Easter Eggs.

I think it would be fun next year to do a little workshop on these...very fun.

DON'T FORGET TO SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR SECOND OF SIX GIVE-A-WAY...

Sign Up For Our Second Give-a-way...Scroll Down.

Here it comes!!!! Our second of 6 give-a-ways is here and ready for sign ups. It will help us if when you leave a comment that you leave your email address also. That will make notifying the winner so much easier.

This give-a-way comes from our member, Karen Eshelby. It consists of a mixed media decorated round box just loaded with things to put on cards or use in mixed media art. It is full to the brim! The next item is a package of 87 sheets of colored cardstock/matstock 4.5x6.5. It is multicolored and textured...great to use when making cards or other mixed media art. Last, but not least is a package of five mixed media cards created by Karen Eshelby. Right now, I wish I weren't a member of the group and I could put a comment down. Karen makes the most fantastic cards.

Rules...Remember to make a comment under the pictures of the give-a-way on the blog. In your comment, please also put your name and email so we can notify you if you win. We would love it if you would follow us too. Next Wed or Thurs, we will annouce the winner & email you for your address.

Ukrainian Egg painting workshop at Gwen's!!

One of our original members, Gwen, who doesn't come very often any more, invited the group to her house for an egg decorating session.

It is a fun but delicate operation.  Here is one egg during application of the wax after having been waxed and dyed once or twice already.

Same egg at the wax removal stage.

And finally the finished egg after 3 color applications and wax wiped off.  Cool huh?!

I think this is one of April's in process eggs.  Can't believe she used orange!

Pinky was really doing some intricate work.

I think this is one that Gwen's son created.  Wow!  Looks like some sort of Australian art work!

We look like some sort of Pagan workshop with our candles and concentration, ha ha.  That is Gwen at the head of the table and Lauren, another neighbor and guest who joined us, on the right.  Lauren is an outstanding knitter and needlefelter.

This is a dog Lauren created with needle felting.  Not just any dog, but it is a tiny replica of one of Gwen's dogs who was a favorite, he passed away.  What a beautiful gift this was, it really does look exactly like the dog.  Except tiny, of course;-J

Look for our next give away!  The winner of the first one is Carol!  Congratulations Carol, I'll need your address to mail the book and pin cushion to you.

Next Give A Way...Coming Up!!!

The winner of the first should be announced today or tomorrow...