An ending and a beginning!!

Ready for a new year to begin? Sure hope so cause it's only a day away!!! Some might be sad but then some might be glad but like always...where there is an ending there is a beginning. A time to start anew.

A brand new journal without any writings on the pages.....your journal.....make it one that at this time next year when you go back and reflect it will be a journal you will cherish and be proud of. No worries if a few pages aren't what you would want to share because as a new year begins so do new days. Each day being a new page to rewrite something not so good the day before or just to make sure you do better on this day. So, bye bye 2014 and HELLO 2015!!!

What are you doing to leave 2014 behind? Me? I'm finishing up Christmas gifts of course..hehehe!!! I'm making a new years resolution that I intend to keep. STOP THAT...no laughing...I am going to...keep it that is...STOP!!! BAHAHAHAHA My resolution is that I'm going to make my gifts all throughout the year. A very good friend (yes YOU, Johanna) suggested that we get a rubbermaid tub and place gifts throughout the year in it so that next year this last minute "CRAZINESS" won't happen. Ummmm....perhaps the craziness on my end will still be here but at least gifts will be made and not add to it, yes?

The mister took our great nieces and nephews gifts to them this past weekend. Noooo, the Chazman and I didn't go this trip as I was a bit under the weather and he felt he had to stay home and take care of me. Such a good kiddo!! I made each one a gift with the exception of my oldest great nephew. STOP that laughing again. I'm not old. My niece just started really really young. Bahaha. I got him a big tub of soldier men to plan out battles with. I mean, HEY, he has two sisters. ^_^  They loved them I was told and that makes me happy happy happy indeed.

Now, I just finished with my sister's kiddos gifts and am thankful that my oldest niece in that krewe is headed to NOLA tomorrow and can hand deliver them. I talked to my youngest niece and told her that "Noooo, I didn't forget her" and her gift would be coming shortly. She was excited as it would give her a gift to open after Christmas. Hmmmm....another idea my smart friend (yes..I mean YOU AGAIN Johanna) that it might be nice to start giving a gift or two after Christmas. It would be a great way to lift spirits. At least I think so because right after the holidays when everything is put away and the house looks NEKKID well I could use a picker upper myself so I know others could too. Anyways, here's what they are getting.

Pretty natural starfish painted pink with sparkle sealer.

Handmade Monocle necklace

 Handmade wool bracelet.

Handmade rose quartz necklace

Now, the three images below (please forgive the quality as I took a pic of the pics on my computer as I already had these boxed up) are my own designs for my  youngest nieces Monster High dolls. WOW..those are some tiny waisted dolls. I did enjoy making these and am going to make more outfits to be put in the rubbermaid box for her next year gift. Each one has it's own hat to finish the piece off. Runway models!!!

Now that I finally can put 2014 behind me I need to decide just what 2015 will bring as far as my art goes. For me personally, I'm starting a new part time job on the 5th that can turn into a full time position come summer. I'm so excited peoples. I have plans (BIG PLANS) for this new year and this is going to start me on that path.

Until next year................Hugs,
Regi

Bout there y'all.....the cave remains!!!

Happy Happy Tuesday peoples!! I hope that you had an amazing weekend and even an awesome Monday. Yes, I know, you're sitting there shaking your head thinking "Regi....who likes Monday and who ever has an awesome Monday?"  Just think of it this way....if you awake on a Monday safe and warm in your bed then YOU made it through another weekend and we all know what can happen in a weekend. ^_^

I had a good weekend since I helped out at my favorite little gift shop (Beach Reflections and the Blue Mermaid) on Saturday and then started putting up my Christmas decorations on Sunday. I'm a bit late getting them up this year but at least I'm about there y'all. Finished with the exception of the Chazman's cave and then it's all done. YEA!!! I have to get a few more garland strands and then I can do his. So happy happy that my child is like me...weird ummmm I mean festive...hehe!!

So....now that I have everything done, how about your annual Southern ooaks Christmas tour. I have old new things this year thanks to a wonderful friend that remembered me. (Thank you Sharon) I love having friends that keep me in mind when they come across treasures that someone doesn't want anymore. They know that I surely can figure something to use it for. (and I always do) ^_^  So let's begin...shall we!!!

HO HO HO...Welcome Welcome to this old humble home!!

This is a Santa I painted years ago but revamped him a bit this year. What better way to greet my friends and family than with Santa. His stare and look are saying "Have you been good this year?" Answer honestly now or are you one of those that your letter would read:

Dear Santa,

I've been good all year. Oh okay, most of the year.

OHH okay, once in a while. 

OHHH never mind.

I'll buy my own stuff.

Once we close the door (which is by the way...always opened to my friends) I have my vintage planter sitting by the door and it's filled with goodies in the top basket. Those that know me, know that I'm beary fond of my bears...hehe...and I really love using them in my decorating. This Ted E and his snowman offer my visitors a gift choice from the items in their basket. Nothing fancy but made from the heart....some of my card tags and chenille ornies and even one of my oyster/moon/scallop shell ornies to choose from. Come visit!!!!

Now our front room that you walk into when you enter is lovingly called "Regi's B&B" and I love to sit in this room and read. So comfortable and calming. The Chazman lets me use his vintage tree under glass in here and well I'm trying to figure out a way to get him to leave it with me when he moves out one day...hehe. His aunt and uncle gave it to him when he was just learning to walk. We would visit and at Christmas time they would have this out on the coffee table and he would immediately go straight to it. His uncle wants everyone to think he's this tough "I don't care for humans" but he is really just a big old softy. He gifted this to the Chazman that year. Since I have the angel at the head of the bed I used the pretty clear lights and the red for around the little tree. When Chaz saw it he said "Hey Mom....you did it for "Naughty or nice". I hadn't even thought of that but we'll go with it. I like it!!!

 See my little reading corner....love it!!!

 Other side of the "B&B"

See...I really do love using my Bears. I  have ummm let's say lots and lots of them. Once ya love a teddy ya always love a teddy. See the wooden rocking horse? My Daddy made that and all of the grandkids really enjoyed using it too. (even when they got big...hehe) It's the Chazman's as Daddy gave it to him when he was little and Chaz is just as sentimental as his mommie and says he will always keep it......so his grandkids can enjoy it too one day. (in the far far FAR away future)  

 This little tree was one of the treasures a friend gave me last year. It's has the fiber optics and is so pretty when lighted.

This door takes you into our family room from the B&B. I loved making this wreath and YOU could make one too. Just click here for my "How To". Simple and easy to make...just time consuming...a little. ^_^

My ribbon netting is my old new decorating item as well as the cute candy and large ball ornaments. These are the ones my sweet friend, Sharon, brought to me. 

If you visit with me each year for the tour then I'm sure you noticed that we don't have the tall, full tree like we have had in the past. Nope...it finally bit the dust BUT we enjoyed it for many years. This year we bought a live tree and OMGOSH, I love the way it makes the house smell. Piwacket does too for she is practically living behind it..hehe. Hopefully though, I can find another pretty full big one after Christmas on SALE. This little tree would not hold all my ornies but at least we have a beautiful tree with the ones it would hold. The Chazman and I are HAPPY!!!

This Santa is hanging over our sofa and hanging from the little Santa clothes pins I painted are two of my favorite Christmas cards from one of my bestest buddettes. (luvs ya Johanna)

Now, if ya come to visit be very careful who ya walk under the kitchen door with cause that little Ted E is holding mistletoe and we all know what you're suppose to do when walking under mistletoe. Noooo, it's not sneezing....hehe!!!

 More pretty ribbon from Sharon!!!

I LOVE to bake and this time of year my little cake plate stays filled. I made a delicious chocolate cake with apple caramel frosting. Yum yum yummy!!!

Have ya noticed all my mugs? I collect them and love them all but especially the vintage old Santa ones. 

 More pretty ribbon from Sharon!!!!

Our little cookie cutter tree..hehe. The Chazman and I love to make cookies and it helps keeping them close by not to mention they make a great decoration too. 

Now...that's the tour for this year. I still have the Chazman's cave to go and then it's time to get my hiney in gear and get to making gifts. Ppplease remind me next year to start early. ^_^

I do hope that YOU and yours have a wonderful Christmas and remember what this time of year really means. A time that we as Christians commemorate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Celebrate and be kind to one another!!!

Blessings, Peace, Love and Hope,

Regi

Whooooo knows what day it is?

Mr Owl knows and he even has his dancing pants on to prove it.....hehehe!!! Happy Friday peoples!! I hope today is just the beginning of one HOOT of a weekend for YOU.

Remember this picture from my post on Wednesday? Of course ya do....well.....they have all been repurposed into Christmas ornaments. I actually got 10 more made (on top of the first two I've already shown you) and delivered to Beach Reflections and the Blue Mermaid Gift shop yesterday afternoon.

Santa goes perfect on an oyster shell, yes? He does look kinda like an old salty sea dog and I bet if he could have been something else besides Santa then he would have been a pirate.....a good pirate mind ya. Argg argg arggg!!! Notice that some of the shells have more than one face? Well....that's because some actually had additional shells attached and my muse just had to fill them in too. If interested in purchasing one of my original oyster shell Santas then just follow this link to Beach Reflection's online shop and Diane will gladly handle it for you. I'm only doing a limited amount of these and remember...they are one of a kind!!

Apparently I'm going to be painting some clear glass Christmas balls and sand dollars today and this weekend. The ladies had them all ready to hand off to me and say "Go...do your thing". I'm Happy Happy cause I LOVE doing my thing. ^_^

Until next time.........Hugs,
Regi

Egg changed....so did dragon

I have been frantically working on the Chazman's gift today.  As you know from yesterday's post my muse decided to posses one of my kitties and broke the original egg I had made. That turned out alright because I really like the new egg much better. In fact, looking at the new egg I decided that it needed a new dragon hatchling to go with it.

He's in the oven curing now and I just have to hope that the Chaz will sleep in late tomorrow so that I can get him painted. Today is their last day until after the New Year. Keep those fingers crossed for me ppplease!!!

I hope that everyone is having an awesome day. Mine for some reason is filled with leaky eyes. Thank goodness these days are few and far between. My Happy Happy nature has a hard time handling them.

Until next time.....Hugs,
Regi

Gosh Darn CAT!!!!!!

My two old girls, Boo and Callie, are normally very laid back and never bother anything in the house. UNTIL this morning. This morning was the Chazman's Christmas program at school and I left Boo sleeping peacefully on the top of the piesafe in the back room. (where my art studio area is) Miss Callie went outside to enjoy the sunshine when I went to leave. I didn't have a care in the world and so enjoyed the program and getting to sit with Chaz during all the other classes doing their parts. I left the program with a smile, a big hug and thank you from my young man and I sang Christmas carols all the way home....so Happy Happy!!
UNTIL I walked in the house and went to the back to find Boo sitting on my desk and batting the egg part of the piece off the desk, sending it crashing to the floor and into a gazillion pieces. I could not believe what I just witnessed. My Boo wouldn't do that....she must have been possessed. Yes yes..that's what it must have been and that's what I thought. UNTIL.....she jumped off the desk and started batting all the pieces all over the place. It seems she made herself a playtoy and it seems she got herself booted (gently) out the back door.

I only have today and tomorrow to get this piece completely finished. Remember, it's a Christmas gift to the Chazman from me and I do NOT want him to know about it. I was so upset and frustrated until all of a sudden a thought popped into my head. Perhaps that wasn't the right egg to go with this piece, so my muse in all of her infinite wisdom possessed Boo so that I would have to make another one. Yes, yes that was it and so I designed a different egg.

This is the egg right before I put it in to cure. The lil dragon fits perfectly inside and I really like this one much, MUCH better. I guess the saying is true "Everything happens for a reason" but my muse and I are going to have to sit down and have a longgggg talk about my cats.

Until next time.......Hugs,
Regi