Merry Christmas!

I made this today!, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

It's Christmas week! I'll be baking, finishing up my shopping, finally sending out my Christmas cards (so late this year!) and spending precious time with my family!
The holidays snuck up on me this year. Not that I didn't see them coming, I just thought they'd mosey on over rather than run up on me! The Christmas spirit is a bit lagging as well...not that there's any REASON that I'm not dancing around singing carols, I'm just still playing catch up! So today I will attempt to catch up, clear out the cobwebs and find all the merry!
Joy to the World!

A vintage picnic...

A vintage picnic..., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

This is one of several photos I just received from an auction I won on ebay.
These people are military families. I have several photos of African-American and white families having fun together. These photos are from the late 50's...mainly '57 I believe. I find it interesting that when families are united in service to our country, color is of no concern. Yet, this photo is from a time when color was of big concern - mainly in the South. These people seem oblivious to that stark reality. It is refreshing.
In today's world, when the word "racism" is thrown about without thought, it's nice to see a photo like this and know that racism, even in it's prime, was rejected by most Americans...just as it is today.

Baby it's cold outside!

God is an Artist, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

The other day I woke up and the whole world was covered in glitter...it sparkled in my headlights as I drove my daughter to her bus stop. I couldn't help myself...I stalked the sun... waited for it to come up and grabbed my camera and set out to capture the sparkle. This is the best shot I got...you can see it glistening on the fence behind the rusty antique bed frame I use to prop up my sweetpeas...which is covered in frost...glitter and grunge!
Ooooooh, pretty!
God is an artist.
His favorite winter art supply? Glitter!

It's Showtime!

Flip Clock Number Necklaces, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

I have two really big shows this year! Today is the Bearzaar...at Olympia High School and next weekend is the big Lacey Holiday Bazaar at St. Martin's Pavilion!
I just love doing shows...meeting people...laughing and kick-starting the holidays! Last night after I set up, I walked around the show, admiring all of the incredible work people have done. It is amazing the amount of literal hours that go into a show of any size. One booth had at least 6 big Christmas trees that a couple of ladies were painstakingly decorating with handmade ornaments!
I especially love the family time that shows bring. My daughters like to help me and my sister and mom also enjoy pitching in! I may make the goods, but in the end, I get by with a little help from my peeps!
Hopefully, this year will be profitable...it's a tough financial year for most folks...but ultimately, it's the love of art that drives me to create...a show is a really fun way to clear out the shelves so I can make some more!

Good.

Good., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

This is Dakota...our good dog. We will put her to sleep tomorrow. I'm not one of those people who think of their dogs as people...kids...I'm not even really a dog type of person. But losing her will be heartwrenching.
We got her from a friend about 10 years ago...because otherwise she would have gone to the pound. She has been a perfect dog. She was a friend to our kids, protected us from fierce wildlife such as...well...skunks, porcupines, and bunnies, and gave us love - oft-times undeserved. She was a friend to cats...opened up her doghouse to a parade of feline friends and offered her warmth on cold winter nights. She wasn't very friendly with other dogs, but for some reason, cats were a-ok. She has always had such a sweet face and as she's aged, her graying muzzle has just become dearer.
She has been declining in recent months...she's nearly deaf...her eyesight isn't what it used to be (I can completely sympathize) and it takes her a while to get up and get her legs moving. Recently she's developed "bedsores" on her hips and legs from all the laying around and she seems to be more and more uncomfortable. We have known this is coming but how can we feel "good" about putting her to sleep?
I hope that there is a heaven for dogs...if there is, she will surely reside there. She is a very good dog.

Treasure Hunting!

Drawers full of Ladies Watch Crystals!, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

Gosh I love hunting for treasures! I think if I lived in another era, I'd be a friendly pirate, searching the sea for chests filled with gold!

Yesterday I went to a fabulous junk shop...I was the only customer in the store and I started chatting with the owner. I asked if he had any watch crystals and he jumped up and told me to follow him into the back room where he showed me this fabulous "treasure chest. I have wanted one of these chests...empty...for ages but they always cost a hundred bucks or more and I just can't justify it! He started opening the drawers to reveal hundreds of little ladies watch crystals...one by one...my heart started beating a little faster! I asked him what he wanted for it...I won't say what I paid, but it was much less than the empty ones I've seen...and I told him I'd take it! I didn't even dicker which is out of the ordinary for me...I always love a friendly back and forth. So...I bought it. I brought it home and now it sits with my other treasures, waiting for my muse to work it's magic! Until then, I shall open those drawers and giggle just a little!

Halloween

Witchy Little Collage..., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

I confess, I've never been a HUGE Halloween fan...I don't like the dark side of the holiday...the kid-friendly fun stuff, sure, but the bloody, gory scary stuff, not so much. BUT, this year, I sort of decided to try my hand at a little Halloween collaging. I'm just not inspired. I'm not surprised, though. I think I'll skip ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas. My brain has been filling with Christmas ideas...there's just something about the school year starting and the holidays just rushing at us...inspiring!
:o)

Funky Little House Charms

Funky Little House Charms, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

I love funky...I love ephemera...I love houses...I love decorating houses...so these charms were born out of all of my love for those things. I have bigger versions in the works...and haunted Halloween houses! ooooooh...scary!

Look What I found!

Look What I found!, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

Oh how I love thrifting! Today I wandered into Value Village...I rarely go there...it's out of my way most of the time. So, today I found these shoe forms. They're old and weathered and pointy and have the most fabulous letters and numbers printed on them! They're women's sizes and super duper narrow! I love 'em! Primitive at it's best! I don't know what I'll do with them yet...for now they sit on my antique blanket chest looking fabulously old.