What's the Time? It's Time to Get Messy!

OK.....so I guess I had a little old school rap happening in my head as I was mod podging away today.  You know that Pinterest is my best friend (don't take that personally ANYONE).  I have had the worst couple of weeks to date but even when the rest of my body is pretty much shot and hurting horribly, my brain is still functioning and those gerbils are running on their wheel.

Paper, knife, wood, glue, material.....
Yep, that about does it!

Some of the pieces drying and getting ready
for a few more coats

One dried that I did a week ago.  It is ready for a
few more coats of slop

These guys are just sitting here patiently waiting
for their glue bath!

Once they are all done and dried, they will be getting some vinyl sayings applied to them like "Let it Snow", "Feliz Navidad", "Merry Christmas", "Wise Men Came", etc.  I can't wait till they get to that point but I am happy that I have had this much progress so far.  I will be doing a Holiday Bazaar on December 3rd and I think these will make great little inexpensive stocking stuffer or white elephant gifts.  If you are in need of some gifts, please don't hesitate to contact me as I have tons of Christmas and Holiday art and saying and I would love to make something special for you!

Until Later....Dream Big!
Mamalou

Living Room Picture Wall

I need some feedback and ideas and guess who I come to first....yep, you!  Look in the mirror and you know who I am talking to :).  Give yourself a great big pat on the back because I know that you want to offer feedback....right?

OK, here is the dilemma....if you read my posts, you know that I have recently gotten a sudden burst of creativity and need to get crap moving, well not moving per say but just changed up and spruced.  A new season, a new leaf turned, a new blah, blah, blah.  Actually, I was just kind of looking at my huge picture wall that I have in my living room and a year has past since any new pics of Marcus (my grandson)  have gone up or were switched.  He pointed out in his almost two year old language the other night that PaPa is holding the "BayBay" (in his sort of Louisiana sounding word..lol).  We tried to explain that the pic was of Grandpa and Marcus when HE was a baby but since he is NO longer a BayBay, he just didn't get it so...time to update the wall.  Hey, if I was as adorable as him, I would want to see my face plastered all over MiMi's (me....Gammy shortened) wall.  I am going to show a few pics below that will show how it originally started and what it looks like today and explain what I need/want to do.  First, this is originally what it looked like right after I hung the vinyl words up.  Oh and keep in mind that I have a large cutter for my vinyl so the wording is a given piece that is going to change.

My original wall, blank until I added the initial vinyl
and two collage frames.  I worked everything
else around them.

Gaps filled but still not great.  The lamp I love
needs to be moved.  It scratches the wall
and we don't even use it.

This is the wall today. 

I was playing around with the wall last night and trying to figure out which way I want to go with it.  First, black and white is just so, black and white so I need to add some colors.  If you look back at my posts, you will see the cool turquoise clock that I repainted.  That sits to the right of this wall so using that same turquoise makes sense and pinkish/peachy color is light enough that it doesn't knock you out when you walk in and see it.  Oh, and you can see that the lamp, although pretty, has been moved to the basement for now until we can find a way to incorporate it back in.  So the words are new, the large "A" still ugly craft paper color is just up to show that I want to incorporate it in, plus my project from last week, the "A" in the glass picture frame hung by a ribbon.  One more art piece will be going up but it is not finished yet.  It will be sort of like the button art piece below but I am putting it on a painter's canvas covered in burlap material. The button colors will be a lot cream, mother of pearls, lighter browns and I think I will incorporate a few turquoise" just to break it up.

                                                              

                                 

So what do you think of it all?  Do you like the idea of the small wooden words?  Do you like the idea of breaking up the pictures with a little monogram art?  What should I do with the big "A", modge podge it, paint it, modge podge and glitter?  Now you are on to something! :)  What should the vinyl say?  I have some pretty standard ideas, but am liking "Memories.  Memories are timeless treasures of the heat.", "Every Picture has a story to tell", "Family is belonging to and believing in one another", "Families are forever", "Moments to Remember", "Home is where your story begins".  Any of them jump out and smack you?  No, me neither. I know that when I see it, I will just know but hey, I could just put romper Room! LOL  I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and any help or feedback is always appreciated.  

Anyway, if you take the time to read this, please comment and give me your feedback and ideas.

Until later...

Mamalou

Late....Story of my Life!

OK...I know that I said that I would TRY to post each day,  I tried, I promise!  I just had a few obstacles that got in my way so I will blame them.   I think that is fair!  My baby Briar turned 16 on Sunday.  I can hardly believe he is 16.  It makes me feel old, old and tired...lol.  He has tried my patience over the last year so I was kind of unsure if him or I would really make it to this momentous occasion but we did! :)   He has ADHD and I have always said he got that from his Dad but I really just need to admit that I have it also.  With my past jobs in the student loan industry, it has always helped me multi-task but the older I get, the more "off-task" I tend to get.  BUT, the good thing is that it definitely leads to some of my best creative endeavors.  Some of my new ideas will be posted soon so stay tuned.  I have been working really hard to understand this new cutting program and I have to say that I LOVE it!  I have learned so much from watching Sandy's videos and the first time I cut vinyl (for my van's new logo design), it cut perfectly the first time.  I have been experimenting with the rhinestone designing and have to say I am having a ball.  Again, more to come there and images hopefully by next week. 

Health has been the main culprit of my time lately and I have to admit that I have been doing a lot of sleeping which is only good because I don't think about the pain.  But, I also don't get much accomplished while off in dream land.   The doc seems to think that there is more involved with me than just the "simple" osteo-arthritis and fibromyalgia and we may make some big med changes at my next appointment.  If you pray, say a little prayer as these meds are not kind to the body.  Luckily, I have a wonderful friend, Gina, that has the same syndrome and has been holding my hand through this all.  I am a very lucky girl to have her by my side as we both seem to make each other laugh when we both really want to cry.  Everyone needs a friend like her as she is not only funny, but she is one of the most talented people I know.  She is such a wonderful knitter and I am sure that if I ever lose my hair, she will keep me outfitted with the coolest skull caps a girl could ever want! 

Anyway, many images coming very soon I promise and I hope to get this blog thing down soon....blog rings, blog communities, blog this, blog that.  I never knew there was so much involved just to get peeps to see your work! 

Until next time....keep dreaming big! :)

Love,
Mamalou (Lisa)

OMG....I am cutting!!!

Yes, it is true.  Last night I was finally able to cut my first file with my new big man cutter.  Now, I don't know who this Murphy character is, as in "Murphy's Law" but this person needs to be smacked and smacked hard.  I was bound and determined to find the answer to why my cutter was not communicating with my computer without going to ask someone.  Yes, I am the type that needs to go and look for the answer and not just have someone tell me what to do.  So, I found the problem, fixed it, and guess what?  It started raining.  Now this was  not just raining but it was more like a flash flood, build ark, rivers run through it type of rain.  So, needless to say, I have cut vinyl that is now sitting on the kitchen table.....grrrr.  That is what I get for being an independent woman! I have not cut anything today as as my 15 month old grandson was over and I didn't feel like having a very expensive toy become part of his toy  collection!   My body also is hurting way to bad today to do just about anything so.....until we meet again!

Mamalou (Lisa)

Reflective Creativity

I have been doing a lot of reflection lately. I lost a dear friend a couple of weeks back and even though he was way to young to leave this material world, it makes you think and analyze yourself. What have I contributed to this world? How will my friends remember me? Have I made any type of impact on anyone that would warrant them saying "gosh I am going to miss her!"? I believe that people come into your life for a reason (good or bad) and they all leave us with something we remember them by, good or bad just the same. Take for example my friend Jim that just passed away. Him and I both lived in an apartment complex that was more like Melrose Place. He moved in following his divorce and just prior to my divorce beginning. We both had sons that were close in age and we became instant friends. Jim was 10 years older than me and like the brother that I always needed. He was such a caring, HUGE hearted individual and he was my protector, my friend, my confident, and I know that he would have done anything for both my son and I. He was such a loving dad to his son and would even joke about dreading the day that Derek would no longer kiss him goodbye.

Even with all of the good, there was also a dark side to Jim. I know that he was hurt deeply by his divorce and he hated ever saying goodbye to his son when the visitation time was over.  He would tell me when he was going to retire to the "batcave". I knew what that meant...and I knew that I would not see him for a couple of days. As anyone who was married to an alcoholic will tell you, you get a nose like a bloodhound and can smell it come from people's pores after they have been drinking.  When Jim disappeared, I knew what he was doing.  He would lock himself  in the "batcave", close the blinds for 2 days, and drink away his pain.  He never drank in front of me. I never got to ask him if this was out of respect as he knew about my ex-husband or if he just didn't want  me to think anything bad about it.  I knew it and I never thought bad of him.  Maybe sad because on those days that he hid, I missed my dear friend but he never, ever disappointed me.  And, I will ALWAYS remember those beautiful memories of playing Othello or cards until the middle of the night, or watching the doctor that used a one bedroom apartment for his "changing" room as he turned from a he into a she, taking him with me to the Pam Tillis concert that I won tickets to on the radio, driving with the top down on my convertible at night down the 60 just to smell the orange blossoms blooming, or just standing around outside of our apartments with all of our fun friends and shooting the breezing in the Arizona night.  We always had fun when we were together, but that is depression.  You enjoy the good times that you have together.  As I said, Jim passed away a couple of weeks ago and I wish in my heart that I had gotten to speak with him one last time to say how much he touched my life and how I will never forget him.  His demons may have gotten the best of him but I pray to God that he is at peace now and he is forever in the light, no more shades drawn in the batcave.

I have another friend that I went through some of the same things with. Thankfully, he is still around for me to let him know how much he means to me and that he made a difference in life and I can't thank him enough for that.  Even though our paths don't cross like they used to, we both know the pain that each other has gone through to get to today,  When you have a chronic disability, you know what depression is.

Recently I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and degenerating bones.  I live with chronic pain and I know how helpless that pain can make you feel.  You get to the point where you just want that pain to go away.  You feel like a burden on your loved ones and you let down a lot of people that don't ever deserve to be let down by just not being able to be there.  No longer am I the person that used to be able to bend over backwards to help everyone. Some days I am lucky to get clothing on or just move from the bed to the couch. I am helpless some days and I wish that I could just snap out of it.  I know what depression feels like.

That brings me to the main point of my post. While running an errand yesterday, I heard a new song for Pink! on the radio (Raise your Glass) and when I got home, I actually remembered to go to her website to see if she has a new album out. While out there, I saw her new video for a new song on her "Greatest Hits So Far" album.  It is called "F**king Perfect".  Now, some may not like the words but I think that Pink! always has a graceful way of delivering her message and is a true artist in her own right.  Go to her website and watch the video with an open mind and ignore the "F" word if it bothers you.  I think that it delivers an incredible message, not that slashing or suicide are ever the answer, but just that everyone needs to find their "voice" or an outlet for your emotions.  I think that this is what vinyl is doing for me.  Luckily with designing images, there is not a huge amount of typing and my "voice" can be expressed in my work.  Some days I will work on happy images or quotes and some days, they can be more sad or mad....but they are all me!  It is a way that I can express how I am feeling, still keep me feeling a bit productive, and hopefully touch someone else with my work.  Now that makes me happy!

Until next time!
Mamalou (Lisa)

Pictures Loaded and Many More to Come

What a day it has been.  I think I have gotten more accomplished today than I have completed in the last two weeks.  Over 150 images have been loaded to Flickr and my Facebook page (check out Mamalou's Gems).  I have finished some designs that were almost still unfinished.  I have gotten my new cutter completely setup, turned on, software upgraded, and many of Sandy's videos have been watched.  Oh wait....I washed the grey right out of my hair and my finger nails are now repainted.....whoo whoo!  What a day and I am wiped. 

On another note....is anyone besides me loving this season of American Idol?  I have to be honest that I have never watched anything but some of the horribly funny initial try outs but these kids are incredible and some of them have some incredible talent to go with their incredible stories.  Unbelievable is all I can really say. 

On one more note.....check out the new sticks that are available.  I think I am going to remove the sticks on my van and remake them just because there are so many new heads and bodies that I want to use.   They even have a knitting lady for my bestie Gina.....very excited!  With Spring coming, the weather is getting perfect to apply the car vinyl so put in your orders soon. 

Until tomorrow, when I hope to have good news that I have officially been able to cut a design.  Keep reaching for the stars!

Mamalou (Lisa)