What's What Vol. 4 (May 18-June 11)

 I knew this would happen. I'm just a few weeks back into blogging, and things went awry. Let's see if I can knock out a little bit of a catch-up without going too crazy.

What's Finished

As I wrote the last blog, I was working on my May Inspiration Trove Assemblage project. You can watch the video, and the piece is now available at Hello Gallery in downtown Fairhope for sale. 

As well, the 100-Day Project came to an end, and I finished strong by completing this little stitch (and stitched) pouch. You can get a better look at it in my reel on Instagram. 

What's in Progress

Here's a sneaky peek at this month's Inspiration Trove project. (Any guesses as to the prompts I pulled? One is pretty obvious.) And, of course, ICAD has begun! 

This is yesterday's card that used the Glossy prompt. 

What's Up Next?

In the next few hours, I should be pulling the sentiment(s) for June's Finding the Words art journaling. If this interests you, here's the full playlist to explore. As well, there's more index card altering to do, of course. I had hoped to do a vlog this month, but I've been crazy busy and caught a cold in the midst of it all. So, we'll see if that even happens.

What's Caught My Eye?

I went on a thrifting excursion/"artist date" yesterday and picked up several new-to-me items. I'll have them in a thrift haul video later this month. However, you can see some of my other recent hauls in the Thrifty Thursday video that just went up. 

What's Had My Attention?

I mentioned in the last post that I've become a member of a book club, we're now reading The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. I'm listening to it and am loving it so much. Also, the hubs and I just finished re-watching Ted Lasso and remember why it was such a favorite. SO DARN GOOD!

What's Been the Best Part of My Week(s)?

I've gotten to spend a little more time with one of my best friends. That's a lot of what's kept me busy - no complaints there. At her encouragement, I've joined the Junior League of Mobile! My "provisional year" is just starting, but I'm so looking forward to meeting some new people and serving my community.

I think I'll stop here for this post and try to make sure to stay on the ball.

Here's hoping!

What's New with You?

100 Days of What?

Little slips of paper with scribbled ideas litter the surface of my desk. There's a massive binder spilling over with more sketchy notes of inspiration. It's stashed nearby...along with a journal full of doodled designs. However, I never seem to have the time to work on any of these half-baked daydreams and side-projects. I fill my hours with what I think I need to do. What if I created a need to test out those plans? Every day. For 100 days (at least). 

Yup. You guessed it. It's time for The 100 Day Project. 

And, I thought I was ready. I really did. This plan was decided weeks ago. 
But, I (JUST NOW) reviewed my list of previous projects and realized two things.
One- This will be my TENTH year participating. 
Two- My project last year looks a lot like what I have been planning to do this year...On no!

I had to go look at my Instagram to find the 2025 hashtag because I just couldn't remember. My posts there about last year's project are scarce and sporadic. The way I wrote about it feels like I was unenthusiastic and losing steam. So, with only days until the 2026 project begins, I'm rethinking the idea I've had for months. Because...it's just too much like last year's unmemorable project.  And, that's not what I want for 100 days of my life.

Granted, I don't need anything groundbreaking or difficult. I want to do what all the advice out there suggests: work on something that I'm looking forward to, something that I want to show up for. I've already given myself enough challenges this year (Finding the Words, Inspiration Trove, Create with Me: Jewelry, etc. - all on YouTube). I don't need anything else to agonize over. What I need is permission to play. Just a little. Every day.

So, I think...I think I'm going to stitch. 

That can be interpreted in so many ways: slow stitching, using my sewing machine, embroidering or cross stitching, repairing or decorating my clothes, making stitched stacks or clusters, sewing a journal together, stitching in a journal...whatever. 

Just one of my many stashes of embroidery floss

While I have so very many supplies, all I really need is a needle, thread, and something to stitch. So, it's a project that can travel easily if needed. And, I'm excited to do it. 

Kits I'd forgotten I had

I just have to wait for the project to start on Sunday, February 22nd. If you're toying with the idea of joining, let me give you just a little advice:

•  It's okay to not take on too much. 
• Keep it simple, attainable. 
• Make sure you WANT to do it for 100 Days. 
• And remember, you don't have to finish something every day, just work a little on the idea. 

Now, get excited and go for it!

If you're interested in my previous projects, below are the hashtags I've used and a little about each of them. This year, I'll use #StitchABit100

2017 - #Make100Earrings: The idea is pretty self-explanatory, and I even did some serious prepping for it. 

2018 - #Altering100: I decided to alter a variety of materials for use in either mixed-media art or jewelry. I was all over the place with this project.

2019 - #SilverloxFinds was a really fun and memorable project in which I went out, explored our property, and shared the wild and wonderful bits I found there. 

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt was all about using some of the art supplies I have amassed. I think I even had a list of 100 items that I was to work from. This was a bit of a dud, I think. 

2021 - #100DaysofMakingJewelry is another I don't remember well. However, looking through my posts, I think I got quite a bit of jewelry-making done. 

2022 - #Assemblage100 was really exciting for me because it allowed me to begin playing with the idea of assemblage art. Here's my post about it. 

2023 - #Making100Faces AND #MiniAssemblage100 might have been a tad overambitious. But, the faces were easy. And, I enjoyed playing with more assemblage at a smaller scale. It felt more manageable that way. 

2024 - #NotPreciousProject was glorious, but I'm still working to not make my supplies so precious. 

2025 - #HopeDaydreams was fiiiiiine. I experimented. I played. But, I did it already. 

Please note that since Instagram's use of hashtags has changed, you may or may not see my posts when you click on the hashtags above. Sorry about that. Who knew they'd mess up such a vital search function? Sigh.

Anyway

I'm ready to pull out all my floss, thread, needles, fabric, and the rest of it and get to it. I guess you can say that I'm itchin' to get stitchin'

Should I mention all the spools of thread?

As for all those scraps of ideas, they'll get used...eventually.

I'd love to hear if you're joining the party and what your project is. 

Oh, and I know I've been away from the blog for ages. Sorry about that. I do hope to be here more often. But, I don't want to make too many promises quite yet.

Winding down the 100DayProject

I awoke the other day with many thoughts about the 100 Day project and decided to jot them down here to share with you.

Some of the bits I gathered/curated at the start of this year's project

As this is my eighth year participating and my ninth project* (because I crazily did TWO projects last year 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤣), you may wonder why I keep doing it. Honestly, I sometimes wonder too. 

But, there's something about the commitment of knowing what you're going to be doing for 100 days. And, there's the excitement and build-up of it at the start. Often, there's the relief in knowing that I'll have more art pieces completed at the end and the personal expectancy to show up EVERY SINGLE DAY. But, it is probably the days that lag and when inspiration just isn't there that are the real reasons I do this project year after year. It helps me see that even at those times, I can create something. It likely won't be the best thing ever, but I did it. I got through the lag and drag.

And, there's something about coming out the other side of the project. Of having that release, the FREEDOM to do something else, anything else. That you are no longer held to your commitment to do whatever you've been doing for 100 days - that you now have time to explore another project. 

Here, at the end of this #NotPreciousProject, I'm seeing that light at the end of the tunnel and am feeling inspired by what comes next. And, I'm doing it with a sense that I can use those "precious" items. I'm excited to put away some of the things I've pulled out (see picture above) and finally clean up my spaces and move forward.

I mean...ICAD starts on June 1st!

*If you're interested in learning more about my previous projects or this year's please see my announcement post for the 100 Day Project 2024.

The 100 Day Project 2024

Yesterday, the 100 Day Project for 2024 started (it's not too late to join in!!) I mentioned last week that I would give you a heads-up about what my project is going to be. So here it is - I'm doing a #NotPreciousProject. Basically, I've got too much stuff. 

And, I've made it all "too precious" to use. That's just plain silly. So, I'm going to work on breaking through that mindset and USE some of it because most of it is not really precious. I'm just afraid of messing up. 

So that I don't get overwhelmed by ALL the things in my stash I've curated a small collection (above) to start me off on this year's 100-day journey. I plan to restock it as I use items and find more to try to use. 

I'm not limiting my use of these Precious items to any particular medium. I just want to use them, to give them purpose again! 

My goal is not to use 100 items or to make 100 things…it’s simply to spend 100 days consciously using those “precious” items in projects. And, the precious items may include anything I’ve deemed too precious to use: found objects, paints, papers, thrifted materials, new/purchased materials, whatever! 

This is my eighth year participating in #the100dayproject, and I love how it challenges me to keep thinking outside the box and moving forward. My previous projects have been

2017 - #Make100Earrings

2018 - #Altering100

2019 - #SilverloxFinds

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt

2021 - #100DaysofMakingJewelry

2022 - #Assemblage100

2023 - #Making100Faces AND #MiniAssemblage100

If you want to see a quick video of some of my stash, you can check out this reel on Instagram.

So, are you participating in the project!? Let me know what you'll be doing for the next 100 days.

Latest News

My focus lately has been a bit all over the place. And, with any luck, it's not slowing down. But, I need to remember to keep y'all updated over here too! So...let's quickly recap some of the latest highlights (in no particular order).

• I did an interview with CanvasRebel recently and the article just came out. You can read it by following the link.
• I also got my name out there even more as I did a demo of some of my mixed media card-making at Hello Gallery in Fairhope during the February First Friday Artwalk (after-hours) event. 
  
  
   I'll admit that I was pretty nervous, but enjoyed myself plenty and got in the creative flow better than I expected. I do have jewelry, assemblage art, mixed media cards, and a variety of other pretties available for sale in the gallery.
• I've been very active on my CraftyHope YouTube channel. Since my last blog post, I released several vlog series as well as art journaling and thrift haul videos. Oh, and there are a couple of jewelry-related ones too! (The earrings below are one of them!)

  

  DIY Easy Toggle Ring Dangle Earrings

  
  
• I'm desperately trying to decide what I'll be working on for The 100-Day Project this year. It starts February 18th, so I best decide SOOOOOON! I've floated the idea of several different projects but am leaning more and more toward yet another assemblage project. I'd love to hear if you're joining the project and what you're going to do. 
• There's new jewelry in the CraftyHope Etsy shop for you to peruse. Here's just a peek.

Red Dagger Earrings

• If you watch my "What's in My Art Bag: Jewelry Edition" Video, you'll notice that I mentioned a new Bead Box. Hopefully, I'll have a new "stocked" post soon. But, because of the rush I was in to get packed up, I didn't get a ton of photos. So....we'll see how that goes. 

Whew, I think that's plenty for now. If there's something you're missing from me, just let me know!

The 100 Day Project 2023

This year marks 10 years since the inception of The 100-Day Project. 

And, it will be my Seventh year participating. 

The 2023 project begins in just over a week - on February 22nd. Now seems like the right time to reveal what I'll be doing for the project this year, reasons for participating, and tips for picking a project. 

Let's start with reasons I'm participating and why you might consider it too.

-Doing something repetitively, day after day will help you learn more about it and search for other ways to expand and grow with it. A hundred days lets you explore all the intricacies of a medium or practice. This is my MAIN reason for participating. It's what drives me to do the project each year - to get better at what I'm doing. 

-Building community - you can find others online who are also participating in the project and/or doing similar challenges as you.

-After 100 days you learn if you really enjoy doing something and if you want to pursue it.

-It really does increase your creativity.

-Gives you daily content for your social channels (great for those days when you're grasping at straws)

And, there are so many more reasons, these are just my main ones. 

Now, what about picking a project? Here are some things to consider. 

First, I encourage you to read over this post from @DoThe100DayProject on Instagram. She makes some really great points on ways to narrow down the focus of your project. 

I also want you to remember that

-Your project doesn’t have to be something huge that has to be finished every day. You only need to do one little thing to work toward your goal each day. 

-It doesn’t have to be physical art - maybe work on your yoga poses or clear out some of the physical clutter in your creative space or meditate each day.

-Think of something you know will be easy to fit into your days or will make your days easier. You can always make it last longer on the days you have more time.

-Don’t choose something that will add stress to your life. Will 100 completed pieces of art piled up in your space inspire you or weigh you down?

Here are the projects I've done for each of the last six years.

2017 - #Make100Earrings on Instagram and Make100Earrings here on the blog

2018 - #Altering100 on Instagram in which I altered a variety of materials for use in either jewelry or mixed media

2019 - #SilverloxFinds on Instagram. This is a tag I use to this day to reveal the wild and wonderful things I find here on our property. 

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt on Instagram. This was a project in which I worked on using many of my supplies. It's actually something similar to my #CraftyHopePrompts.

2021 - #100DaysOfMakingJewelry on Instagram.

2022 - #Assemblage100 on Instagram.

And for year seven....I'm going to attempt TWO PROJECTS!!

(Yes, I might be a little crazy.)

First, #Making100Faces

I decided on this project over a month ago when the subject of the 100-day project came up. It was my first idea and one I can’t shake. Drawing faces as a project has been done by MANY people, MANY times. But, I know it’s something I enjoy, want to work on, can do with limited materials, and can pick  up and do quickly just about anywhere or take my time with it. However, this isn’t something I expect to see showing up in my art or becoming something more than a way to keep my hands busy. 

Second, #MiniAssemblage100

Reading that post from @DoThe100DayProject and seeing a few other people reveal their projects made me realize that while face drawing would be kinda fun and so very, very  easy, it doesn’t really help me grow much toward my vision as an artist. It doesn't make my heart beat a little faster (the way the assemblage project did last year.) What does make me excited (right now) is the idea of building small assemblages for both framing and for jewelry. But, I want to keep it small. So, by mini, I mean assemblages or collages that are smaller than a dollar bill (this size idea comes from @Ricki_Ticki_Tavy as she sorts her scraps in a similar fashion) I hope that by keeping these small, it can also make them quick and easy. But, we’ll see. 

So, are you in?

What are you going to do for 100 days?

February Challenges and Inspirations

I hope your January was as productive as mine was. February is shaping up to be a good one too. I pushed myself to put in a request for space in a local cooperative gallery when I saw that they were looking for new artists there. I almost didn't. But, a reminder about working on my Word of the Year came into my feed at the same time. My word is BRAVE. As I was considering approaching this gallery later in the year, I decided to step up to the plate and go for it. I've met with the owner, and she is interested in my jewelry and art. So, it sounds like my bravery is paying off already. While I wait to finalize all of that, I'm keeping busy with creating. 

One of the greatest motivators and inspirations for me is participating in a variety of challenges. Each month, I like to share a list of the ones I'm planning on working on as well as any others I've found. This is that list!

• First, I have to mention my own #CraftyHopePrompts mixed media prompt challenge. This is something I created for myself to build up a prompt deck. Each Monday, I pull three prompts and alter a playing card with those prompts, adding them to the card to be used later. On Saturday, I create another project that uses those same prompts. If this sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to watch any of my CraftyHopePrompts videos. Or, just pick up with the most recent (Week 19) Mixed Media Prompt.
• Another prompted mixed media challenge is Seek Gather Create. The hostesses call it a Mixed Media Scavenger Hunt Challenge because you need to seek out the materials to use. This challenge is also weekly, but only for a month. The list of four prompts will be released each Sunday. The first ones were just announced this past Sunday and they are Tissue Paper, Denim, Something folded, and Something rusty or rust-colored. I've already got a video of what I created with these prompts. I encourage you to follow the four hostesses on Instagram where they will be announcing the prompts each week. They are Lisa Goddard, Tina Hois, Laura Denison, and Melanie Theriault. 
• If you're more interested in Jewelry challenges, there's the Pirate Pretties Jewelry Challenge from Angela of Pirate Pretties Jewelry. This is a monthly challenge with some different parameters each month. First, know that each month, there are two colors for you to combine into your piece(s). This month, the colors are Kelly/True Green and White/Clear. In addition, you are to use silver or gold to create earrings and optionally include clovers or some other good luck charm. You can find more about this challenge in Angela's video. The reveal is set for the 15th and you can either share your creation(s) in a YouTube video using the hashtag #PiratePrettiesJewelryChallenge and/or a picture in the Pirate Pretties Facebook group. 
• Sarajo of SJ Designs Jewelry has shared the February inspiration photo for her Honey Do List Challenge. This month, it's actually two textural photos from her husband, Eric. Sarajo will have a linky tool up on the 27th for you to share your creation. She leaves this open for several weeks in case you're running a bit behind (like I usually am!)
• The 100-Day Project will begin on February 22nd. I've participated in this project for the last several years and really love how versatile, easy, and inspiring it can be. Really, just pick something creative you want to do for 100 days. You don't have to share it or end up with a completed project or anything like that. You can work on one thing for one minute or really however you want to roll with it. The point is really just to be creative for 100 days. I'm pretty sure I've got my project picked for this year, but need to settle on a hashtag. Also, since I've done it several times before, I thought I might even do a whole other post next week on benefits and ideas and other information about it. For now, please go check out the site and consider joining in the creative fun!

And, that's the list of what I plan to work on this month. Do you have any challenges or inspirations that are keeping you creative and moving forward right now? 

More Assemblage from #The100DayProject

I am beyond tickled that I chose to do assemblage art for my 100 Day Project this year. Each day, I worked on something (small or large) toward an assemblage piece. And, even with the project now over, I'm slowly getting videos of many of them up on YouTube to share how they came together. As well, I don't plan on giving up the art either. I've found that I really enjoy pulling all of the treasures I've gathered and saved and hoarded into complete artworks. Two months ago, I shared the first of the videos I had up on YouTube of these assemblages. It's well past time that I make sure you see the rest of the ones that are available to watch now. 

Found Object Fairies

Mushroom Dwelling

Lucky Duck Pendant

Bubble Boy

Spool Case

Hexagon Button Box

Relic

Alphabet Soup

Wow, that was more of them than I thought. You should be able to click the pictures and/or captions to go to the videos. 

Which is your favorite?

Make sure to follow the CraftyHope YouTube Channel.

The 100 Day Project 2022

I've said it time and again; I love a good challenge. As such, each year since I've learned about it, I made sure to participate in #The100DayProject.

 This will be my sixth year participating. Let me tell you a bit about the project in general before I get into what I'll be doing this year. Quoting the website, "#The100DayProject is a global art project that takes place online." Basically, you pick your art and try to engage in it for the 100 days of the project. Your art can be ANYTHING and your participation each day can be as simple as a single brushstroke, bead strung, stitch sewn, dance move, funny face, etc., or it can be a completed project each day. It's up to you. And, if you miss a day or two, no biggie, just pick it back up when you can. For the most part, you share your project on Instagram, but it's not necessary. The purpose is to help boost your creativity, and you can keep it to yourself if you want. You can find more information on the website or by searching on Instagram. Make sure you follow @DoThe100DayProject there. This year, the project starts on February 13th so you've got just under a week to make your plans.

Let me tell you what my projects have been in previous years, and then I'll share this year's project. 

(Oh, the suspense!) 

• In 2017, I decided to  #Make100Earrings.  (How I prepared)
• 2018 was all about #Altering100. (More about this project)
• For 2019, I went on the hunt for #SilverloxFinds. (And, I still use that tag from time to time. There's more about this project in this post.)
• In 2020, #MakeArtDontFakeArt was my focus. (Learn about this one here.)
• And, I circled back around last year to #100DaysofMakingJewelry. (This post explains my thoughts about this one.)

Alrighty, let's get to it. For my 2022 project, I've decided on . . . #Assemblage100. I think it's just vague enough to give me some flexibility but also gives me direction. When I started considering what I might undertake this year, I wanted to give myself a little challenge, but also not be too hard (considering my current mobility issues.) I've been collecting bits and pieces of awesome for years.  Initially, these treasures were specifically intended for jewelry, then art journaling. But, more recently, I've come to recognize my appreciation and admiration for more sculptural assemblage art. So, I want to start putting some of my "treasures" to good use. I mean, what else am I saving them for? Take a look at just some of what the craft room holds.

I've got a bookshelf full of these hardware organizers. What's in the little drawers you ask?

There are keys of all kinds. (There's another bucket-full in the closet.)

I've got a variety of game pieces.

This little drawer of watch parts looks promising. 

There's even a whole drawer full of bells!

But, it doesn't stop there. Above that shelf is another with a variety of jars that hold chandelier crystals, beads, buttons, and old jewelry. 

There's another jar of old jewelry across the room that's designated specifically for mixed media projects. 

It sits on a box of miscellanea that I've been saving just for assemblage.

Then, there are my buttons. This is only a small portion of them!

I've got piles and piles of natural elements that might work well for this project.

There are other treasures that I thrift and find, like these goodies from a friend's yard sale.

And, y'all - that's just the tip of the iceberg, just the things I could get to in order to take pictures. I also have stacks of wood, old spools, bits of leather, porcelain doll parts, tiny jars, old utensils, hardware, rusty bits, so many books, and gobs and gobs of Tim Holtz elements. I think I might be set. And, I think it's time to start using these treasures. 

I'm a little worried this might be too ambitious, but I keep reminding myself that I don't have to make a completed piece each day. It doesn't have to be anything huge. I can make little resin pendants and shadowboxes, fill jars with glitter or sand, make tiny elements to be added to larger pieces, and so many other small steps. I just need to get started. I think this project has been in me for years. I've even set up an Assemblage Art Pinterest Board to remind me of what I find inspiring. 

When the idea of this project came to me, a little thrill of excitement ran through me. I knew it was what I needed to do. If you want to play along with me and create some assemblage art using my #assemblage100 hashtag, let me know. Shoot, I just want to know if you're going to try to take on #the100dayproject at all. I always love to see how everyone else is being creative. So, are you in for 100 days of creativity?

Peek at My Week (Feb 4-13)

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all! I hope the day and week ahead treats you well. This past week was a doozy for me! Take a peek. 

The above is about all I accomplished on Sunday, and that was specifically for my #100DaysOfMakingJewelry for #the100DayProject. My motivation otherwise was NOWHERE to be found. I had all kinds of ideas and things I should have done, but it all felt so taxing. I ended up playing on the Xbox for a while. It wasn't productive by any means, but I let it slide. 

Monday, as usual, was much more productive as I knocked tasks off my list, including working on some jewelry. In fact, I worked with the above materials for several days to get a necklace made. There was a terrible storm that night that had us up at 3am unplugging everything to protect it from a lightning strike. 

Tuesday ended up being a warm and beautiful day. But, I didn't have a chance to enjoy it because I stayed so busy! A customer ordered some earrings but then picked out several other items she had found on my blog and Instagram that she wanted. As well, Artemis had another vet appointment as we're still spacing out her vaccines to prevent another bad reaction. 

That went pretty quickly and painlessly (for me anyway!) Back at home, our washing machine's drain has continued to back up. Though Tuesday is my laundry day, I couldn't finish the washing without making a bigger mess (more on that in a minute.)

Despite all the crazy, I was able to fit in just a few minutes of art-making.

I needed to play with some paint to relax a bit. It definitely helped.

All heck broke loose on Wednesday. As scheduled, the guys came out to pump our septic tank to see if that would help fix the laundry drain issue (it didn't). They left the lid to the septic tank exposed because it needed to be re-mortared (by us) before it could be covered back up. While Pat ran to get the mortar, I went and updated the booth at Southern Antiques and Accents with a few new things. 

From there, I went to pick up lunch. It was already raining, but this was headed our way.

With lunch in hand, I hurried home as lightning struck several spots very close to me as I drove. I arrived home shaken and soaked! As well, the rain prevented Pat from mortaring the septic tank lid, so it was still exposed in the yard. As we sat down to enjoy lunch, we realized that the satellite was out. Further investigation revealed that the cable to the house had been cut when the septic tank was dug up. We were on the phone with the satellite company for 45 minutes just trying to get them to send a technician. They wanted us to restart the receiver and run through all the other troubleshooting. We were both already at our wit's end, I don't think we were very kind. It was an exhausting day.

Since I knew repairmen were headed in to help us on Thursday, I woke with some optimism. It was really foggy but warm enough to sit on the porch and focus on the day ahead. From there, I saw that the jessamine was blooming.

It helped keep me hopeful.

Before long, the reinforcements started rolling in!

The cable line was re-run and the plumber did his best to fix the washer's drain. However, they'll be back out here on Monday to re-run the line. It'll be an expensive mess, but maybe I'll be able to wash clothes again! While they were both doing their thing, Pat was able to mortar the tank. After lunch, the rain held off long enough for me to help him re-bury it. 

I finished the necklace from earlier in the week and started on some earrings.

Later in the day, I even did a little art journaling. I really just wanted to throw some paint around but went overboard into ugly. I was just about to walk away from it when I realized I could highlight the beauty in that mess with some black gesso.

I'm glad I kept at it. 

On Friday, I decided to use up some of the eggs the chickens have been laying for us. First, I topped my avocado toast with a couple for breakfast. 

They fueled me for the day ahead and the long list of chores that I tackled first thing. Then, it was on to jewelry-making.

Fresh eggs made their appearance in dinner too!

That's a Korean Beef and Couscous Bowl that I kinda made up and will hopefully be sharing the recipe for before too long. It's so stinkin' easy! Oh, and the big news for the week was that we discovered on Friday night that our Building Permit was posted outside. This means that hopefully there will be some movement on Pat's new shop before too long!!

Also, on Friday, I soaked a few pages of a National Geographic magazine with Citra-Solve. It was tough not to mess with it too much, but on Saturday morning, I had some beautiful pages. (You can look up this technique online. There's not much to it.)

I spent much of Saturday on a particular project that I can't reveal until the end of the month. But, I love it! When I ran out to pick up one supply for it, I also got some Girl Scout Cookies. I couldn't resist!

Before I settled in for the evening, I made sure to get started on a new jewelry design. This necklace is moving faster than the other one.

And, that was my week - a wild ride for sure!

Here's a little inspiration for you:

• At the end of each month, Halcraft Collection shares a few tutorials using their pretty palette collection. Here's January's Pretty Palette Reveal. 
• Julie of Balzer Designs shared her Valentine's Day Ideas from the archives. 
• At The House that Lars Built, they've shared some artist-made Valentines that you can print (for a fee). 
• This DIY Lego shadowbox is so much my style! I almost made it for Pat, but just ran out of time to get the minifigs and box. Maybe next year...
• Jen at Epbot is one of my favorite bloggers. She's geeky and so awesome. It's not often that she does something jewelry-related, but when she does, I take notice. Her tutorial for making these Dollar Tree Laser-cut necklaces is no exception. 
• I love a good, old photograph for my mixed media art. The Graphics Fairy recently shared a collection of 22 Vintage Actress Images. I saved so many of them!
• Peacock & Lime has this great collection of 25 Jewellery Organization Ideas that are sleek and beautiful. 
• I've been saving this list of artist-made Geeky Valentine's Cards since last year. Again, I waited too late to get one for Pat. Drat.
• Here's another earring tutorial from Moois Van Mie. I actually have a plan to use a bead cap in a similar way at some point soon (the design just got added to the bead box.)

Like I said, this week has been a doozy. I'm looking forward to a better one ahead. Here's hoping yours is full of sunshine and magic!