How about that...I did have pics! I didn't take pictures of them after I worked on them though - I guess I got behind. I do know I added a beaded necklace that said "Expect Miracles" on the striped crow, and crocheted a fancy scarf for the green crow. These birds really rock!

And at last, the final three. "Bubbles" (with one of my favorite characters, 'Glinda, the Good Witch'), "How MUCH??", and a simple "How Does Your Garden Grow"...with a feline gardener, of course!

I find as more and more of these projects come along, the need to truly think and create outside the box becomes the command. It is one thing to think about "how" you want your RR project to come out, let alone how it will really be "looked at" and added to. The anticipation as your project sails from one artist to another...the mystery of what they see...and the total joy when your project is returned! I must say I love Round Robins more than Swaps because of the multiple participants!

I have learned recently that my crow, Mr. Eye Ching, is making his last stop before his trek home to me. I have missed him so, but am so excited for his return. I have worked on 6 other crows in this RR, and am so tickled at the differences! Most of us chose the traditional "black" for the crow, while 2 others chose brightly colored fabric. Kudos to the ladies who took their crows out of the ordinary and into true altered rainbow birds of glory!! If I took a picture of them, I will post them later.

Okay now...here is the next set of three - "Music", "Hang On" and "Simply Black & White".

I have received my first set of cards from Robin to work on - always a joy to have her work in my hands as it is so beautiful and creative!! I learn so much from her!

These are 3 of 9 Glue cards from the most current Round Robin in Visions & Dreams. I'm having trouble with the uploading, so I'll try the others in another post. This is my set and will be added to by 7 other artists. "Celeste", "Life's Passions" and "Heads Up"...I think those are the names LOL! I wrote so many ideas down that when I finally sent the cards off, I forgot to write the final titles in my journal. C'est la vie!

Wow, it has been a long time since I visited here... I decided to make a few changes from dark to bright... to go along with Summer Solstice. So, I am hosting my first Swap this month, and as you can see from the pictures posted, it is a "Dotee Doll" swap. These little darlings are creations from another blog site "Dot's Life and Art" and were introduced to us by Annie from the Netherlands. These sweet little dolls take on personalities of their own and can be very addicting :o)) I am amazed at the myriad of styles that have been popping up in our group...from mermaid and celestial to showgirls and cats! The possibilities are endless and you can't just make one LOL!! I am very happy to be hosting this and look forward to the lovely creations that will come my way! By the way, the ones above are named "Myrtle Mae" and "Starlight". Currently on the homepage of Altered Art of Visions & Dreams is a patriotic "Miss 4th of July" Dotee by Diane. With that said, Happy, though belated, Fourth of July to everyone and I want to give special thanks and prayers to our Armed Service personnel in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and all around the world. Thank you for standing on the wall for us to keep our country safe and free!!

I've added another Blog-site I hope everyone will visit. It belongs to a fellow "Visions and Dreams" member, Trish, and is very cool! She has featured one of the crows in our Fancy Crow Round Robin...a very fun RR. I have a little break from the timeline of the group right at the moment...I'm waiting for my next crow to fly in. I have gathered from my stash and from the local stores, goodies to use in a friendship card for my dear friend Yvonne. She is already done with my card and it is in the hands of Mr. Postman, so I have another goodie to look forward to receiving. Sometimes it is so hard to be creative or get an idea going as there are so many sad and distressing happenings in our country and around the world. One can only do so much (prayers, meditations and well wishes...supporting special aid organizations), and then you just have to carry on. I guess I am especially thankful for whatever good fortune has come my way, and hope that I have learned lessons from the very difficult times I've experienced. Life is a balancing act and we get to have only "one". Be good to yourselves and those around you.

...also did my first "Mini-Composition Book" swap, so above is my contribution. I experimented (I am such a newbie at this) with a paint on paint stamping technique and pigment ink. The brand of ink I used did have a tendency to smear, so it created a challenge. I see now it can be used better if embossed over or sprayed with a matte sealer (I used that instead). Can't wait to see what wonderful creation I'll receive! The ladies in my group are all so talented and diverse - lots of surprises and imagination!

Also, I was in a "Coaster Swap" and above is my first attempt at creating an OZ-themed coaster...well, this one has ended up in my room "OZ" and works pretty well. The others have gone to swap.

These are the houses I received from Felicia for our "Little House Swap" (Altered Art of Visions and Dreams). The photos don't do justice to her lovely hand drawing and wonderful use of lively and pastel colors. Some of the doors open, too! Great job, Felicia!

It has been a few days since I posted and I hope this finds all who read this doing well. Dixon, CA, is home to the new Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery; something we were unaware of until it opened last year. After this past Memorial Day weekend, we drove by the cemetery on our way home. My husband and I haven't been down that way in awhile and it struck us so deeply how many more headstones are there. There were about 6 very large American flags put up for this special day; many flowers and people were there to pay their respects. It is a rather stark, treeless cemetery...it hasn't developed the beauty of Arlington National or Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO, but I'm sure there are plans. We both feel honored to have this bittersweet landmark in our home town, and we pray the war will end soon. We both want to express our many thanks to all who have served (I have 4 in my immediate family alone) and those who are still serving our country...those who "stand on the wall" to keep us (USA) safe. May they return safely and may we take care of them and those who have returned, with all the love, caring and medical (ALL fields) assistance they so rightly deserve. God bless all our soldiers.

We just had a nice unexpected visit from a great friend that my husband has known since...well, too long ago to remember. He was working at the University near our home and was heading back home to the Bay Area (where we used to live). Thanks, Dean, for the visit - you and Elizabeth are always welcome here! When are we going fishing??? I was able to get a lot of gardening done today and then off to several stores including the fairly local Michael's where I bought goodies for more projects coming up. I'll be seeing my friend Von next week for the first time in who knows how many years, so good things are happening. Friends are so very important in our lives, especially ones we've kept in touch with forever and those we find again. I feel very fortunate to have had both.

"The Tall house of Cards" (aka double decker...) and "A Native Home". "The House of the Paper Route" and "Castle #13".

I finished and mailed off the creations above for a recent Little House Swap for the group I'm in. They are a bit different...can't make a village in the same time period, but not bad for a first attempt. I'm very excited about receiving my houses which should be here in a few days.

...some personal happy news to share... I had a wonderful surprise happen to me this weekend. In the latest edition of Somerset Studio, I noticed a picture in the reader's letters of a painted addressed envelope/package. The name beneath it blew my socks off!! It was sent in by my best friend from 37+ years ago; I had lost track of her (she is the friend mentioned in my May 3 post). Anyway, I finally tracked her down and talked with her for 3 hours on Saturday. (Note to self - check schedule, make plans for long visit ASAP:o)))) Although I missed her first publication of handbags in another Somerset Magazine (sorry, Von), I did get to see her other spread in the first volume 2007 of "SEW SOMERSET" and I highly recommend checking out her lovely wearable fabric art!! Her name is Yvonne Montano, the article is 'FABRIC MEMORIES'. I am so thrilled to have found my friend again, and look forward to seeing her in person; we have a lot of weaving of our own fabric memories to do, along with just good old fashioned catching up!!

I honor of Mother's day, I've posted a button fairy I did recently for a swap. This one is of special sentiment to me as it has the picture of my Mom when she was just 14 years old for the face of the butterfly. She loved butterflies, so it only seemed appropriate she should be one here. I miss her very much. Happy Mother's Day to you, Mom, and all the other mom's here and who've flown on.

It is really frustrating being a computer dork...I have been trying for a very long time to post a slideshow and I can't get it to show up on my site. It is not meant to be at this time, but it is time for me to plant my pumpkin & cubanelle plants, Blue lake bean seeds and enjoy some sun. Too much time has been expended on this and I need to knock off my creative block to finish a project with a deadline quickly approaching. Attitude adjustment is greatly needed here, too, so off to the garden I go...sigh.

as a side note...I've been meaning to add the pic of my contribution to Jo Anne Owen's pink project "IN THE PINK - a collaborative book project 2008" on PAPER CAT'S PAGE!! http://paper-cats-page.blogspot.com/ . I'm sure there is a way to list a link in a more appropriate way...Jo Anne, my apology for fumbling at this (another part of blogging to learn, it never ends). I am so impressed with the pinks that have evolved for her project - a good place to visit. Thank you, Jo Anne, for the chance to expand out of the box one more time.

It is Saturday, the weather is begging summer, my new little plants are crying to be put into the ground. But an old friend was found yesterday and I received an e-mail from her, and my husband called to say a great garage sale is down the street by his mom's and there's cool stuff (yes, I bought some things, unlike me), and I stopped in the middle of posting to answer the e-mail, go to the garage sale, visit my m-in-law, now I'm back. It seems appropriate at this juncture to add flowers from my cactus & the climbing rose in my back yard in celebration of these few events.

A few pieces I've done to give you a small insight to what I've been up to.

This quilted picture, "Tatonka", was a subtle kick in the direction to a different world of art, one without paint or hard canvas...the beginning of my altered art journey, I guess. From an ATC swap, "The Face of Alice" has a lot of meaning only I would understand, but it's up for anyones interpretation :o)) This is an ATC I gave to my sister-in-law (we both love cats...duh!) My "Tigress" mannequin tag for another swap - very fun to do.

Here is my sweet Nestle, 16 years old this month. I tried to capture his blue eyes only with a special setting on my new camera. I think I need more practice and my husband to hold him, ha ha! Although I've had him only 6 years, he has been the best friend and comforter in many a difficult time. p.s. He is actually a Burman with Siamese coloring...the special setting just tried to capture the blue and leave the rest in b&w.

Still under construction???

I am finding this 'blog' to be very time intensive...I was warned by my friends ;o) That's ok...the preliminary "stuff" has been entered. Now to add something more that may interest others...or not. Happy Saturday, what is left of it.

Earth Day/Earth Week

Today we had some rain and I saw that as the Earth crying...she is letting us know she needs us all to take care of her.

Eureka...I have blogged

It is getting later by the minute...but I have created my first post. Not sure if it belongs in this particular box, but what the hey? It is all a learning experience...