Spring has Sprung!

At least for today it has! Spring is definitely in the air here, warm and sunny with the almond blossoms and daffodils blooming and the smell of cut grass in the air ahhh! Gotta enjoy it while we can since it's suppose to rain tomorrow.

I'm happy to report that my Queen Box (see previous post) made it to Georgia safe and sound with only one jewel missing and the post office was good enough to tape it to the box! I really do believe that the PO takes better care of things when mailed as is.

Finished up some more art projects one is for a chunky book my local art click is doing with winter as its theme:









And an ATC for a friend's son:

Confessions of a Shoeaholic!

Yes, you read right...I am a confessed shoeaholic but trying to reform!

We are in the middle of a major shuffle around at my house! hubby moved his big book case out of my office....the plan is to move my office to another part of the house and move my studio where my office is...of course this requires lots of shuffling, moving piles of crrrrap etc....well in the course of trying to get the bookcase up the stairs (it didn't fit and had to come up the roof through the door that opens onto the roof for no apparent reason other then to move furniture through) hubby found my stash of shoes ack!! I had a round table in this little alcove that had a table cloth over it...well under it I would store my shoes because it was easier then going up and down the steep stairs we have....yikes I didn' t realize how many shoes I had! When he found them I heard him tell our son that I must be related to Imelda Marcos from the Philippines Ack!!! (it didn't help that the kids started hiding their shoes under there too!) Yes, I just got rid of two bags of shoes and still have more that I'm weeding through too since I injured my back and knee I can't wear most of them anymore and now that I started wearing my Crocs that's all I wear...yes they are ugly but man are they the most comfortablist shoes I have ever owned and they have helped my back and knee greatly!

Hi my name is Aileen and I'm a shoeaholic!

Okay aside from shoe cleansing I did create an art box assemblage that I mailed with a piece of Plexiglas over it as is through the mail to a fellow Altered Art Diva....I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it makes it in one piece! This piece measures about 6"x 9".

Gosh I completely forgot about my interesting visit to the Post Office yesterday! In I walk thinking my art box will be the highlight of the PO's mail day something fun and different being mailed! Boy was I wrong! how can you out do 8 boxes of live roosters and chickens all crowing and squawking at each other as they were being weighed to be shipped to Texas! LOL what a sight to behold! what was even more funny was the looks on people's faces as they walked through the PO's door and took in the entire scene and sound effects LOL priceless!

Happy Days after Valentine's Day!

Hey better late then never, eh *grin* I am happy to report that I was pleasantly spoiled on Valentine's day by hubby and the boys with nice gifties and wonderful homemade cards and letters...that helps make up for my birthday which I won't go into but suffice it to say it was almost all but forgotten, though I doubt they will do that again ;-)

My Mr Morgan thought he was made of rubber again and broke yet another bone! this will make number 5....no his bones are not brittle he just is a full charge ahead kind of kid! Though this particular incident wasn't his fault but a results of playing football during PE and since he's still a little guy the big guy won out when he couldn't stop in time. Neither Morgan nor I were thrilled about spending the day going between drs offices and x-ray labs but at least we were given the x-rays to keep which made it all worth it to Morgan since he's studying bones in Science and of course being an Altered Artist I'm think ohh what can I make with one of them *grin* We sure have been enjoying the Olympics especially the curling GO USA! rling GO USA!

What art have I been doing? more custom fairy boxes and now tiny smidgen fairies in bottles:






I also finished up a few pages in a Traveling Art Doll Round Robin I'm in:

I survived Friday!

I was really looking forward to this past Friday but not long after waking up I realized it was going to be one of those kind of days. Two kids both with issues before school....one has a melt down...mom had a melt down....not good! but then hubby surprised me by sending me a beautiful iris bouquet and that helped make up for the morning from hell :-)

The afternoon didn't prove to be much better but at least the evening wasn't so bad. Watched the opening ceremonies for the Olympics which were awesome! I am glad that it's TGFIA! (Thank God Friday Is Over!).

I finished up on a chunky book page with the theme wings

Other then that I've been working on my Displaced Fairies, I'm pleased to say that I've received many custom orders *big smile* so that's what I've spent my weekend working on :-)

I added some new images to the freebie background and image page.

Over the hump day!

I always consider Thursdays to be over the hump day. The day that brings you that much closer to my favorite day of the week, Fridays! I love Fridays because its the beginning of the weekend. Friday evenings are typically family time movies, pizza and time to unwind :-)

I'm very excited to have found that one of my favorite authors had released another book in a series she's been writing since I think 92 or 93. I believe this is book number 7 titled A Breath of Snow and Ashes. They are one of my all time favorite series. Diane Gabaldon is the author and her first book is titled Outlander. Each book is at least 600 pages she's a great story teller! No its not heavy reading but boy do I love the story which is centered around time travel and a Scottish Highlander. Its part Sci-Fi/Fantasy part Historical. The publishers for years have had a hard time putting it into a specific category. I was fortunate enough to meet Ms Gabaldon and have her sign a few books several years ago.

Here's description from Amazon for OUTLANDER:
In Outlander, a 600-page time-travel romance, strong-willed and sensual Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century, and a lover in another. Torn between fidelity and desire, she struggles to understand the pure intent of her heart. But don't let the number of pages and the Scottish dialect scare you. It's one of the fastest reads you'll have in your library.
While on her second honeymoon in the British Isles, Claire touches a boulder that hurls her back in time to the forbidden Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan. Not understanding the forces that brought her there, she becomes ensnared in life-threatening situations with a Scots warrior named James Fraser. But it isn't all spies and drudgery that she must endure. For amid her new surroundings and the terrors she faces, she is lured into love and passion like she's never known before.

Don't let this fool you this is not a cheesy romance novel! and Ms. Gabaldon is very thorough in her historical accurateness. The beginning of Outlander is a bit slow but once you get past that first section it will captivate you. Not only are woman captivated by this series of books I know many men that are also my husband included.
Check out the rest of Diane Gabaldon Books!

Long Time no Bloggin'

Yes, its true I took an extra long hiatus from bloggin' due to so much going on during the holiday season and real life having a way of intervening.

I've been busy redesigning my Displaced Fairies™ page. Check out the new design here and adopt a fairy:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/dfairies.html

Last weekend son number 2 went on his first official date to the winter formal and had a great time. He sure looked good all cleaned up :-) You can check out the pictures here:
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/spenc.html

I just altered a pair of old naturalizer shoes I had that were need of livening up!:



I've also been working on one of my blank mini calendars I sell. The size is 6"x6" perfect size for a desk. I've done two months so far. I figure by the time the end of the year rolls around I'll have the entire calendar done for 2007 at least I hope! ;-)





Currently I'm working on two other little fat book pages one theme is winter for my local art group and the other is wing themed.

Now that I've updated things here, my pal Gail will be dancing a jig (right Gail!) and will have to share all candies with me! I'm into Conversation Hearts right now but then it will be back to fighting over the jelly beans ;-)