Creative Chaos

I'm thinking about changing my blog name.....

to "Creative Whining" or maybe "Creative Excuses" or better yet "Creative Procrastination because I can't seem to get better and just want to sleep all the time plus I'm getting a second cold sore so that saps all my motivation to do anything and I still haven't painted my kitchen"  I'm still pondering my options.  I'll let you know though.   Although, Susan over at "Creative Chaos" on Blogspot and I are in a big fight over the use of the name.  No...I'M more Creative....No. I'M more Chaotic!!  hee hee.....Just kidding.  It was pretty funny when she wrote to me though.  Is there room for two Creatively Chaotic people in the blog world?  I think so!   

I do want to send a big "I'm so sorry" for not responding to all my comments ASAP to everyone.  I really try to respond to everyone that comments or emails.  I have been so bad about it this week.  Although, apparently not bad enough to crawl from the couch while watching my dvr'd episode of back to back Judge Judy and Deadliest Catch episodes to get to the computer.  But, definitely bad enough to consider thinking that I should at least be typing "thank you for reading my lame blog about colds, dentists and excuses" while fast forwarding through the commercials.  At least I thought about it. But there was a man overboard on Deadliest Catch and I was glued to my seat. 

Ok, enough of my "creative excuses" and on to some amazing Swap News. Look what I got from Karla over at Karla's Cottage!!!!!  Woo hoo!   I took a close up of the bucket because it is so beautiful.  It was filled with all kinds of little trinkets and treasures.  And, it even had a little dinosaur as a joke about the fact that my son thought I had one as a pet.   THANK YOU! THANK YOU KARLA! She received my basket and immediately stopped her 10 part investigative series she had started. 

I hope the picture shows the beauty of it.  Artsymama was the one who hosted the swap.  She ended up doing three baskets herself for partners whose original swap partner fell through.  Take a look here for some more incredible baskets that were made!

So as I was taking pictures of Karla's bucket I decided to share some photo's of my craft space.  I'm not quite ready to call it a studio yet.  For all of you out there in blogland saying to yourself over coffee in the morning "Hey.  Whatever happened to that potentially awesome space that creative chaos was working on?  Hmmmm. Whatever happened to that?"   Well.  In a nutshell....not a whole lot.  It doesn't look much different than when I first blogged about it.  Although I do have a new shelf to put my stuff on. 

Although, note the missing piece of crown moulding on the top.  Funny story.  When I was painting the primer I kept thinking "this is weird that he doesn't have this piece beveled to attach the missing piece of moulding.  Hmmm.  Well, he's the expert.  He must know what he's doing. Who am I to question the experienced woodworker."   Ok.  Fast forward to the installing of the cabinet.  I'm in the kichen next door; and he is putting the shelf in place  ........"Arrrgggg....piece of good for nothing $%#&.  What the........piece of $^%#.  Arrrgggg...... @^#^$%%#%@^@^@^^#^^$%."    I walk in and ask "why are you putting there next to that window"  That's when he turns and looks at me and says slowly and methodically...."because that's where it goes"  I respond "no it doesn't. It goes on that wall" and then I walk out back to the kitchen.....all while listening to "Arrrggggg....piece of......"    He said he was going to fix it the next day.  That was 2 weeks ago.  I'm thinking of putting a plant with draping leaves there. 

Next up is my desk.  Don't you love how I can virtually take an over 8 foot space of work table and leave myself with less than two inches in which to work.  I still have paper on the floor.  Anyway, I SHOULD be incredibly embarrassed to show everyone this.  But, hey, after all my whining and complaining for the last week or so I really have no shame.  So here it is.  But I figure this will be the good before picture to my awesome, inspiring after picture that will hopefully be coming sometime before the beginning of the holiday season.  And, I STILL have paper on the floor.  Here's a picture of some of the paper I have stacked.  I thought I it looked pretty together.

Here's an in progress notebook cover I'm fooling around with.  I got the notebook at Target for 3 bucks and it practically screamed decorate me.  Either that or I'm hearing voices now.

And here are some roses from my backyard. They have been blooming like crazy.  Next on the agenda is getting my tags ready for the Tag Swap that Tammy is hosting over at Tammy Gilley Studios.  Very excited to get started on that. Also, Carlos Birthday is on the 10th and my husband's is on the 5th.  I'm tucked in there on the 16th. But, I like to pretend that it never even happens....

 

Peeking in for a bit......

Well, I still have this cold.  But I am starting to feel a bit better.  Thanks to everyone for their well wishes for both Carlos and me.   I have been putting together a couple things that should have been out the door last week.  The first thing is my May Basket swap that Artsymama is hosting.  All baskets were due out the door yesterday.  Of course, mine is still sitting here waiting to be filled. Between my illness and Carlos's tooth I fell a bit behind. I'm just finishing up a few last minute items that go into her basket.  My swap partner is the incredible Karla from Karla's Cottage.  I felt so bad that I was going to be delivering her basket late.  You know, she writes for magazines and such.  So, I was filled with dread thinking that I would be the topic of her next article. Like....."The Darkside of Swaps"  or "Can you Trust your Swap Partner to Deliver?" or better yet "Swap Nightmares: My Personal Journey".    But, alas, she was ever so kind and  and understanding.  AND she even delivered her basket before mine is out the door.  I haven't received it yet.  But everday I'm watching for the mailman. I'll post pictures as soon is it gets here.   In the meantime here's a sneek peek of what I'm sending Karla.........

I'm also getting a crown out the door for Sammy.  This was so much fun to make......

I'll be back with more.......

What a week.........

and it just keeps on getting better.  Of course, that is said with complete and utter sarcasm.  If you want a happy post that is not dripping in complaints read no further.   If you love hearing me complain,  just keep on reading.........

With that said, the good news is that Carlos is back to school with one less tooth.  It was a monumental effort to get him out of bed and into his uniform this morning.  But, once he was at school, I think he was happy to see his friends.   Of course, when ushering him to his class, I tried to keep as low a profile as one can despite having not showered in two days, coughing like a person who's about to spit up a lung and a big honking cold sore on my lip that screams "Look at me. I just crawled out of a cave."   My friend Christina actually gave me a hug and said she missed me.  God bless that woman.   I, on the other hand, would have taken one look at me and probably would have run for my life in the opposite direction. 

So here's the story on the extraction.......We go in and wait for the sedative to take effect.  What is SUPPOSED to happen is that he gets sleepy, relaxed and life is just one big computer game on Lego.com.  Well, what REALLY happened is the sedative had the opposite effect.  So, combine that with three days of no sleeping, eating and anxiety, the poor kid was a wreck.  Let's just say it was a difficult day for the staff at the office. 

So, as we are ushering him out the door in pain and crying, the dentist tells me that when I come back (oh, I'm coming back?  Oh yeah. That's right. I still have $3,200 worth of work that is yet to be completed)  that he wants to do an IV sedation next time and knock him out - which I find disconcerting based on a multitude of things - but, first and foremost because he has had procedures done at our regular dentist and it was never recommended that we render him unconcious.  So, anyway, as my husband is getting him out the door, I am up at the desk paying for the procedure (which includes the cost of the sedation that I figured I could have done at home for free by giving him two cups of coffee).   The receptionist (who was the nicest person by the way.  And, no, I'm not being sarcastic this time.  She really was a doll.) outlines the cost and procedure for the IV sedation.    So, I listen half-heartedly with one ear on the Shark Tale video playing in the background, because I already have an appointment with our regular dentist next week to discuss the chaos and destruction that has taken place in Carlos's mouth since his visit in December when all I hear is the figure $1,400 bantied about.  So I ask.... "that's just for the IV sedation?" and I repeat the figure again assuming I missed the part where it also included a 3-day cruise to Ensenada with an all you can eat buffet and 5 drink tickets.   "yes. That's just for the IV sedation."  Whereby, I say...."Ok. But once you get him to sleep, the dentist better just plan on doing a voodoo dance around his chair praying to the tooth Gods for healthy strong teeth and a miracle cure, because we won't be able to afford anything else other than the sedation."   To which she replied.............   ( OK.  She didn't really reply anything.  Because I never really said that.  But I wish I would have said that.)  I just nodded and walked out the door.  So, as we were driving out of the medical center with my poor miserable baby in the back seat, I looked at his angelic, sweet, swollen face and thought.... "where are his glasses?"  Then, I asked it out loud to my husband.... "where are his glasses?"  To which he replied "oh @#$%" and slammed on the brakes, hopped out of the car and snatched them off the roof of the car.   We then continued home.

We are off to our regular dentist next Tuesday so he can assess the situation.  Phew.....I'm glad it's Friday.   Hopefully, next week I'll actually have some crafts to show instead of a bunch of coughing and complaining to share.    

A portrait of my life this week.....

Oh, yes.  It's been quite the week.  And, it's only half over.  There really should be decongestants in the above photo; but I ran out this morning.   Now I have to go down to the drugstore and prove to them that I'm not a meth lab manufacturer living in a trailer outside of Lakeside before they begrudgingly hand over the goods.   Please note the antibiotics on the right hand side of the shelf.  It's not mine.  It's Carlos'.  The poor guy was up all night with a toothache Sunday night.  Monday morning, after waking up with a cheek the size of a small continent, I took him to our dentist for xrays.  Since our dentist is in Italy (where I kinda wish I was right now)  they got us in at a pediatric dentist who then put him on antibiotics and scheduled him for an extraction for today.  But not before handing me an estimate of future work totaling more than $3,200.00.  Oooohhh yes.  You're reading correctly.  Three thousand.   In my drug induced, coughing state of mind,  I managed to I ask if I could possibly JUST take care of one urgent problem at a time.   At least at this dentist, he will be given a mild sedation for this work.  I was wondering if I could possibly slip the dentist a couple bucks to put me under and just lay in one of their chairs for a couple hours.  I'm guessing...no.   Anyway......I WILL be back! 

I know what you're thinking.....

The sweet and wonderful Karla from Sugar Bear Designs gives her a Thinking Blogger Award

and she drops dead from excitement and shock.  Otherwise, what else would explain the sudden silence from the normally chatty creative chaos?   I mean........because, come on, we all remember what happened to her when she went to Chucke E Cheese on a Friday night.  That event alone set her back for weeks........

Well, folks I've relapsed.  Or, more likely, I never got better in the first place and just got sicker. I transgressed into horrible coughing fits on late afternoon Saturday and into the night.  Only to wake up to coughing this morning.  Soon after, I went back to bed to sleep most of the day away.......getting up only once from the sound of electric saws, hammers and drills.  I stumbled out to the backyard to see a man resembling my husband and two boys who looked like my sons building a two story fort complete with a slide.   I went back to bed without saying a word thinking that matters like this are better handled when not under the influence of cold medication. 

ANYWAY, prior to relapsing into complete sickness, I did manage to check my emails on Saturday afternoon and Karla *aka* Sugar Bear gave me an award for Thinking....or, making people think, or something pretty cool like that.   Now, I have to say, given the fact that I am barely coherent half the time when I post due to arguing children, lack of sleep or simply anguishing over the fact that my son thinks I personally knew Fred Flinstone (note to myself to buy hair color and facial peel at Target tomorrow), I am so glad that I can make people think.  I mean.....If I am unable to think at this stage of my life, at least I can have the pleasure of knowing that I at least make others think!  Thanks so much Karla!!!!  Like, I said I am just glad that someone other than my friend Gail, mom and sister stop by to read my silly little blog.  And, with my friend Gail, I usually have to threaten her in some way shape or form.

So, without further ado (OK.... just a little more ado....this was actually very tough to post just 5 as I could have gone on with at least 25; but I will show a bit of restraint.) here are 5 that I would like to pass the award on to.......

Christiane at Seeing Red......because she cracks me up!  She has a great sense of humor, a wry way of writing and is very nice to boot!  I love checking out her blog and seeing a new post pop up! Since getting to know her, I have a feeling she's the kind of person that I just know I'd have a blast hanging out with and talking to!!

MizSmoochie Lips.....because, once again, she cracks me up!   Case in point....read her 34th birthday post. Can I just say I wish I was there! (I mean without the coughing, hacking or sickness)  Not to mention every stinkin' time I log on to that blog of hers, it's different.  Poof...just like that it's changed.  I know it's coming...but I see that monkey kiss face and laugh!

Elizabeth at Dream be Play  ..... She is the kind of artist that challenges me in every way.  Her style is completely different than mine. Yet, I am drawn to her use of colors, style and freedom in art. I love her writing and how she describes her art and her life. Plus, she is just one of the nicest  blogger out there.  She along with her sister Jill were one of the very first people to visit and comment when I did my blog giveaway.  I will always remember that!

Linda Harre at Studio Stuff ......She is the artist I want to be when I grow up!  I love her style, I love how she writes about her family, I love her love of the work.  I am always peeking in on her blog to see what new inspiring words and creations she has up her sleeve!

Heather at Bluhm Studio ......Besides, being a talented artist and really nice person, I love her honesty.  I love the way she talks about her life, her art, and what's going on around her with a complete sense of self.  I love reading her blog for what new things she has created as well as what has inspired her. 

Kari at Artsymama .......She amazes me with her talent, kindness and all her beautiful creations.   She takes the time on her blog to explain her creative process as well as encourage others to create via swaps and sharing.   She is an amazing generous blogger who takes the time to reach out to other bloggers and artist.  I love checking out her site to see what new thing she is up to.   And (and this is big) she does this all with two little ones underfoot....I tell ya, I am very tempted to hate her for this, but I like her far too much to let this get in the way ;) 

Michelle Geller at Hold Dear....  She is funny....witty....nice...kind.....And, most of all, no one ( and I mean no one) can tell a cat in the tree story better than Michelle!  She is the type of person that I imagine from reading her blog and corresponding that if I were to meet her it would feel like we have always known each other.  ( well, at least, I would feel that way!  Hopefully, she wouldn't just think I'm some nutjob!)  Anyway I love to peek in and see what she has created or what her cat has been up to!

And one extra....Heather at Jeweled Elegance.....technically Heather doesn't write much personal stuff on her blog.  But I have gotten to get to know her through emails and such and she is one of the nicest people around.  Not to mention a wonderfully talented jewelry designer.

So, even though I could keep going on and on with this list (no! you go on and on Karin! no, not you!) I will leave it at these 6 folks.  There are SO many wonderful bloggers out there that I have had the privilege of not only reading their blog, BUT getting to know.  I feel very lucky to be a part of a talented, inspiring, creative community.  I started my blog as a way to force me to write more as well as be inspired to create.  Blogging has far exceeded my expectations. 

Am I really that old?

Actual conversation overheard in the Creative Chaos household..........

Setting the scene:   Carlos is watching the Flinstones movie.  A Pterodactyl flies over the city of Bedrock.   People are running willy nilly for cover.  I'm walking through the living room.........

Carlos:  Mommy.  When you were a little girl in the old fashion days, did they have Pterodactyl's flying over your house like that?

Me:  (insert quizical, yet perturbed, yet incredulous facial expression) Honey.....dinosaurs weren't alive when I was little.

Carlos:  Oh.  I thought they were.  That would have been fun.

Me:  (thinking to myself as I look in the mirror)  I really need to dye my gray roots, possibly consider a complete face lift and renew my membership to the gym.  Because nothing says your getting older better than your child thinking you grew up in the Cretaceous period.

Ok....if your name is a one Ms Smoochie Lips you need to hightail it on out of here and look no further below......... That's right get moving....no peeking!  Hey...I still see you....get on over to another blog..........

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Here's what I sent Ms Smoochie for our swap!    I hope she likes it!

Feeling Better........

Ugggg.....coughing away over here.  But feeling much better than yesterday.  I had the luxury of sleeping and resting for most of the day while my mom watched the boys.  Sheer Heaven I tell you.......

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Day.  Ours was wonderful. Good food.......Good friends......Surrounded by family.......Surrounded by chocolate.  You just can't ask for much more than that.  Especially the surrounded by  chocolate part......ha ha ha....just kidding!  Ok, I'm not kidding.  I love to be surrounded by chocolate! 

Here are the boys with their Easter baskets......I have to admit that this Easter was tinged with a bit of melancholy.  Carlos is 6, turning 7 in May.  This may be the last year of unhinibited, without a doubt, no questions asked, total faith and belief in the Easter Bunny.   It's magical.  And sad to think that by this time next year, although he may want to believe, he will start questioning certain logistical circumstances.  Such as how does a furry creature such as the Easter Bunny get around town without being noticed.  And, at least Santa has a sleigh to carry his stuff.  How does the Easter Bunny do it.  But, for now, I will just revel in the world that is Carlos......one that consists of Easter Bunnies, Santa Claus, Tooth Fairies and a full time maid.   Oh wait, the full time maid is me....never mind.

Next up is a picture of the beautiful and I do mean beautiful piece of art I received fron Lizzy for my Spring Swap that Danielle over at the Vintage Dragonfly organized.  Just look at this.....

Is this just not wonderful?  I have it sitting on my new book shelf.   I love it Lizzy...just love it!

Here is what I did for my swap partner......If your name is Angie, please stop reading now!!!  Tha swap was a 4 x 4 Spring Theme Challenge.  Being the rebel that I am, I used a 4 x 5 canvas.  It was so much fun working on that little thing.   I just hope I'm not going to be blacklisted from future swaps for not following the rules though.........

If you look very closely, some of the background paper is from a vintage wallpaper packet I got from Heather Bullard over at  PresentPast.  Beautiful paper.

And speaking of beautiful paper just look at the DEAL OF THE CENTURY I got at Target the other day......

Two packs of 12 x 12 paper and the mats for under 15.00 bucks! I mean come on!  Where else are you going to find a score like this! I just love this paper...too cute.  It's foof a la which I believe is designed by the uber talented Teresa McFayden.  Thank you for bringing it to the masses!!!

Here's just a couple other things I've been working on..........Next up.....My new studio!  Yay!

Heather does that bottom banner look familiar? I used your idea from your beautiful egg!

Some tags I made.  I actually just bought one of those tag punches.  No more cutting for me!

I made this heart for a swap with Heather at Speckled Egg.  Hopefully it should be in her hands by now!

 

Happy Day After Easter......

Coughing and heading for the couch for some rest..........But look what I finally got done on easter.  Had a lot of time to kill while waiting for a certain 6 year old who was very excited about the eventual visit from the Easter Bunny to finally go to sleep.  While working on these I was interrupted no less than every 10 minutes for 2 hours with "Mommy.......how is the Easter Bunny going to get in with all the doors locked"....."Mommmmmmyyyyyy.....Is the other side of the world collecting their Easter eggs already" ......"Mmmmmmooooommmmmyyyyyyy.....I think I heard the Ester bunny on the roof".   It was eventually put to stop with the threat of me leaving the Easter Bunny a note to only leave Andres a basket.   Ahhhhh good times. good times.  :)  Actually it was all very fun and heartwarming and I do have more to say on the subject as usual.  But, I really do have to lay my weary coughing head down and take advantage of the fact that my mom is watching the boys.........I'll be back!

Just some random nonsense........

So I was laying down with Andres on the couch while he was taking a nap and Carlos was playing on the computer.   Ahhhhhh.....a perfect time to watch some tv.  I hardly ever get to sit and just zone in front of the tv. And, I love nothing more than to just sit there and flip through the channels (Yes. I am a channel flipper and it drives my husband insane). It's one of my favorite pastimes right behind crafting......... So, anyway, holy freakin' guacamole with chips on the side....  has anyone seen this show called "My Sweet Sixteen" on MTV.   First off, I want to know what I need to do to come back in my second life as a child to these uber-rich parents and their freewheeling spending ways.  Is there a form I need to fill out.  An interview I must go through.  Because there is no way I want to come back to life as a salamander when there is a chance I can live in Miami Beach and get a Land Rover for my 16th birthday.   For the love of spending limits, do these people have no restraint?   I think (no wait. I know.) that they spent more on that birthday party than my mom did raising us 5 kids and that includes my wedding.  Whatever happened to cake and ice cream and an extra hour on your curfew to stay out with your friends for a birthday.    Makes me glad for my solid middle class standing...... Sorry Carlos.  No flamethrowers, rap stars or hummers for your birthday.  We prefer to be able to eat when we retire...... 

Anyway, totally ridiculous.   I don't know.  Maybe I'm living under a rock, but do kids really get all that nowadays?  If so, I have a lot of work ahead of me for the next 10 years setting that bar really low for Carlos.  By the time he gets to his 16th, he'll be thanking me profusely with tears in his eyes for a cake with ice cream. 

OK, enough about that......I've got to organize the stuff off my floor as my new bookcase should be installed tonight!!!  Yeah!